By Marion Dehier

With funds from the European Union, IOM Uganda has handed over business start-up kits to the latest group of youth in Kampala city slums.

On Friday 11 January 2019, at least 100 youths from Katwe, Kabalagala, Bwaise and Kisenyi as well as some from Nakawa Division, received small business start-up support worth around UGX 3.5 million each. 

The support is part of the Strengthening Social Cohesion and Stability in Slum Populations (SSCoS) project, which is fully funded by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF).

One of the SSCoS project’s objective is to empower youth in slum populations through vocational skills, mentorship, and financial support to start/grow their businesses. The small business start-up kits will boost young people’s entrepreneurial projects within their communities.

 
In Nakawa Division, Mayor Ronald Balimwezo formally received the area’s portion of the kits from Ms Sahra Farah, the SSCoS Project Manager.  The mayor highlighted the life opportunity the business start-up kits are for the youths.

Gloria Katushabe, one of the supported youths, said, the business kits were particularly helpful because “finding a job is challenging” nowadays.

“Now we can start our own businesses and earn money for our families and community,” said Katushabe, who is starting her own hair salon.

The SSCoS project, worth EUR 4.3 million, started in August 2016 and is set to last three and a half years.

The project is being implemented by IOM, the UN Migration Agency, in partnership with Action for Fundamental Change and Development (AFFCAD), ACTogether, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), KIBO Foundation and Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID).

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For more information, please contact the IOM Uganda Public Information officer: ugandapiu@iom.int