The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, has called on youths in Busoga to embrace the Emyooga program as a pathway to strengthening their financial wellbeing and transforming their communities.
He made the appeal during a visit by the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) to Busoga Kingdom Headquarters in Bugembe, where Emyooga beneficiaries from across the sub-region showcased their products.
Addressing exhibitors and subjects, the Kyabazinga commended the Emyooga initiative for empowering his people and stressed the need for youths to take advantage of the program.
“We've realized that youths rarely embrace such programs. I call upon all the youths to take part in programs that are developmental such that your lives can be transformed. By joining such program, you will be able to develop your family, and the communities where you live because you're the majority,” he said.
Before delivering his remarks, the Kyabazinga toured exhibitors’ stalls and expressed satisfaction with the products and innovations on display.
“I was impressed when I toured what the people are doing. This showed me that you're hardworking people who are responsible who are trying to ensure that you improve on the incomes in your households, educate children and also provide your families with the basic needs. I thank you so much for the hard work which works I've witnessed today,” he said.
He further noted that the variety of Emyooga products ranging from carpentry and sewing to juice processing, clean energy cooking technologies, and liquid soap production reflected the program’s positive impact in Busoga.
The Kyabazinga also thanked the Microfinance Support Centre for its continued investment in the region.
“We thank the Microfinance Support Center for the visit and for the money they have invested through Emyooga program. As we've heard, they have invested over shs17 billion and have already disbursed the additional seed capital of over shs 7 billion. Thank you so much because this has enabled to improve the lives of our people,” he said.
He urged government, through MSC, to inject even more resources into such initiatives.
“We urge the government through the Microfinance Support Centre to inject more money into such programs because depending on what I have seen people showcasing here, it’s working,” he added.
The Kyabazinga also encouraged partners and his subjects to continue upholding their cultural pride and thanked beneficiaries for the gifts presented to him.
Gibson Ayinamani, the Head of Business Development Services at MSC, outlined the Centre’s plans to strengthen collaboration with the Kingdom.
“We are very happy to be with your people this year. Your Highness, we thank you for your guidance as a kingdom in fighting poverty. We thank you for the initiatives you have so far done since you were put on the throne. And we thank you for the continued support of all the activities that we are doing, mainly in fighting poverty,” he said.
He reaffirmed MSC’s commitment to support the people of Busoga.
“Your Highness, as the Microfinance Support Center, we commit to continue serving the people of Busoga in all the initiatives, the mandates were offered to perform especially in capacity building, in offering grants and offering affordable credit to the people of Uganda.”
Ayinamani revealed that MSC intends to expand the skilling program for teenage mothers and fathers by adding more enterprises.
“Your Highness, today we are here to speak partnership with the kingdom especially in the program which you started of skilling the teenager mothers and the teenager fathers. We seek that on top of the enterprises currently under the skilling in Busoga, we add on the mechanics, we add on the carpenters, we add on the saloon and we add on the welders. So that they become five and we support them for three years, targeting each year to support 350 people and all of them we shall be connecting them to their respective emigras to get to the capital.”
He added that with the Kyabazinga’s support, poverty in the region can be greatly reduced.
“Your Highness, we seek that you allow us to take that route so that we can fight poverty and with your support we know that poverty will be history in Ibusoga region.”
He appreciated the kingdom’s hospitality and enabling environment.
“Your Highness, we thank you for allowing us to come to your kingdom. We thank you for welcoming us. We thank you for the continued support.”
The second Busoga Vice Prime Minister, Al Haji Noor Osman Ahmed, praised MSC for its interventions but encouraged them to prioritise youth engagement.
“I want to thank you for the programs that you're running. However looking at the age bracket, I haven't seen critical youth being part. I want you to expand your target group to include the youths,” he said.
MSC Zonal Manager for Busoga, Martin Isabirye, also thanked the Kyabazinga for supporting the Centre’s work and highlighted the scale of Emyooga’s impact.
“In Busoga, we formed 576 Emyooga circles. They received initial seed capital of shs 17.92 billion, and additional seed capital of shs 7.16 billion,” he revealed.
The event ended with Emyooga beneficiaries presenting gifts to the Kyabazinga, who warmly appreciated the gesture.