The Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col. Edith Nakalema, has praised Youth Platform Africa (YPA) for its role in transforming Uganda’s economy through agribusiness.
Speaking at YPA’s headquarters in Rubaga, Kampala, during a car prize giveaway ceremony, Col. Nakalema — who also serves as the organisation’s patron — commended its efforts in empowering young people through commercial goat farming, agribusiness training, access to export markets, and financial incentives such as the innovative Section B Giveaway Car Program.
“As a company, we are still growing. We are introducing agro-inputs and will soon be able to supply the full range of agricultural products and services,” she said, noting that YPA’s work aligns with President Museveni’s vision of fighting poverty through commercial agriculture.
She thanked YPA members for their dedication, saying, “I’m proud of your hard work. We are very proud of you and H.E appreciates you for spreading the wealth creation gospel. Soon he will visit YPA farms.”
Citing her personal experience, Col. Nakalema revealed how her goat herd multiplied significantly under YPA’s management.
“I had only 100 goats, but now they are producing day and night,” she said.
At the event, YPA raffled a Toyota Harrier under the Section B Giveaway Car Program to appreciate loyal members.
The winner was Mr. Lauben Nduhura.
Col. Nakalema said the initiative had boosted membership from 13,000 to 13,500 in just three months, adding that it demonstrates YPA’s commitment to delivering on its promises.
She urged members to seize available opportunities to transform livelihoods, saying, “This is just the beginning. Our mission continues — to build leaders, break cycles of poverty, and drive change across Africa.”
Partnerships and Support
National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Managing Director, Mr. Patrick Ayota, pledged NSSF’s support to help YPA grow faster. He said partnerships with groups like YPA were key to achieving NSSF’s goal of increasing savers from 3 million to 15 million by 2025.
The president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Uganda, Dr. Maka Moses Ndimukika, encouraged Ugandans to join YPA to fight poverty through agribusiness, stressing that “poverty is a disaster, you need to create wealth.”
YPA’s Journey
YPA Managing Director, Mr. Obed Ben, recounted the organisation’s humble beginnings in 2008 with just 21 members, which have since grown to 13,000.
Today, YPA boasts 110,000 goats, 6,000 cows, 2.5 square miles of maize, hundreds of beehives, a SACCO, and four mbuzi choma restaurants across Uganda.
The group leads goat farming in East Africa, offering both active management for farm owners and passive management for investors without land or livestock. All livestock is insured, eliminating farmer risk.
YPA’s future plans include establishing wheat and fertilizer factories to expand its agribusiness impact.
Winner Mr. Nduhura, who had invested in goats and maize, expressed gratitude for winning his first car, saying, “I never dreamed of this. I came just to watch, but now I am driving home a car.”
The event was attended by partners including Mr. Papindra Palsingh of GGS Exports (India) and Mr. Shahzad Ellahi of Agro Corner Ltd.
