The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV, has hailed the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) for its continued commitment to empowering communities through the Emyooga programme, saying the initiative has become a key pillar in the fight against household poverty in the region.
Since its rollout in 2020, government has disbursed more than 25 billion shillings to Emyooga SACCOs across the Busoga sub-region, supporting 576 groups in 32 constituencies.
The impact of this investment was on full display on Saturday as beneficiaries from several districts gathered at the Busoga Kingdom headquarters in Bugembe to exhibit products and services developed using Emyooga seed capital.
Carpenters, tailors, metal fabricators, and women’s associations displayed a wide range of items—including furniture, garments, and crafts—illustrating the programme’s growing influence on local entrepreneurship and household incomes.
In his remarks, the Kyabazinga expressed gratitude to government for initiating what he described as a transformative intervention.
“I have been informed that government first disbursed over shs 17Bn to all constituency Emyooga groups throughout the region, and they mobilized an additional 7Bn under seed capital. I applaud government for supporting the people of Busoga in the fight against poverty,” Kyabazinga Gabula IV said.
He pledged closer collaboration with MSC to ensure that more unemployed people—especially teenagers—benefit from the initiative.
The monarch also urged the Centre to broaden its youth-focused efforts, noting that young people make up a critical portion of Busoga’s population and future workforce.
The Kingdom’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, Alhaji Osman Noor, echoed the call for greater youth inclusion, voicing concern about their limited participation among exhibitors.
“When the Kyabazinga was inspecting the exhibition stalls here, I was keen but I realised the youth were missing. I implore you to include them among the people you support because they make up the biggest portion of the King’s subjects,” he said.
Representing the Microfinance Support Centre, Gidson Ainamani, the Head of Business Services, announced a new partnership with Busoga Kingdom targeting youth unemployment.
He revealed that over the next three years more than 300 out-of-school teenagers—including teenage mothers and fathers—will be trained at the Kyabazinga Skilling Centre in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and welding. Graduates will receive start-up capital through their respective Emyooga groups.
Ainamani reaffirmed MSC’s commitment to deepening economic empowerment across Busoga, noting that the partnership with the Kingdom aligns with the national goal of expanding sustainable employment opportunities for young people.
The event marked a renewed commitment between Busoga Kingdom and the Microfinance Support Centre to promote skills development, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion among some of the region’s most vulnerable communities.