The Kasubi Carpenters Emyooga Sacco has emerged as a model of transformation, offering a second chance to dozens of former youth offenders who have turned away from crime to build sustainable livelihoods through carpentry and craft-making.
Formed in 2021 under the Presidential Initiative on Job and Wealth Creation, the Sacco received seed capital of 50 million shillings and has since evolved into a thriving cooperative that equips vulnerable youth with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
One of its most remarkable success stories is that of Wasswa Joseph, a reformed member of a gang that once terrorised pedestrians and motorists along the Northern Bypass.
Today, Wasswa earns an honest living as a carpenter and has become an inspiration to others.
“I never thought I would make an honest living with my hands,” he said. “But joining the Sacco gave me a second chance.”
Another beneficiary, Christine Nassanga, a former sex worker from Bwaise, said the Sacco’s support helped her escape a life of uncertainty and danger. “I used to survive day by day,” she said. “Now I have a business that supports me and my children.”
According to chairman Sulaiman Ssenyonga and secretary Alfred Olupot, the group’s growth has been driven by collective savings, skills training, and access to modern carpentry equipment.
They said the acquisition of new machines — including a band saw, moulding machine, and cutting machine — has boosted production efficiency and reduced operational costs.
Despite these achievements, the Sacco still struggles to access larger markets, relying mainly on walk-in customers from the Kasubi area. Leaders say market linkages and promotional platforms would help expand sales and sustainability.
From its original 150 members, the Kasubi Carpenters Emyooga Sacco now has more than 350 members with total savings of 45 million shillings — a sign of growing trust and success.
As more young people like Wasswa and Nassanga rebuild their lives through the cooperative, the Sacco stands as a powerful example of how government-backed community initiatives can transform lives once marked by crime into stories of dignity, purpose, and economic independence.