By Spy Uganda
Young people in Kkungu Parish, Kassanda District, are turning small savings into income-generating ventures, drawing praise from Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba, who has urged more youth to adopt disciplined financial habits as a pathway to economic independence.
The youth, under the St John Bosco Kkungu Youth Apostolate, have invested in coffee growing, piggery and the hiring out of chairs and tents as they seek to create employment opportunities and reduce dependence on formal jobs.
The group has also established a savings and credit cooperative, with each member contributing Shs2,000 at every meeting. The savings are deposited in a bank account, while members can access loans at an interest rate of two per cent.
Minister Nabakooba, who was the chief guest at a gathering of the youth at Kkungu Parish, commended the initiative, urging young people to look beyond immediate consumption and put part of their earnings into investments that can generate future income.
“Work hard and embrace the culture of saving. Remain trustworthy and honest,” Nabakooba told the youth.
She said the commitment demonstrated by the Kkungu youth showed the potential of collective action in improving household incomes and creating sustainable livelihoods.
Nabakooba also encouraged the youth to make use of government programmes such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model to access opportunities for income generation and enterprise development.
She further urged the young people to maintain a good working relationship with their local leaders, including councillors, mayors and Members of Parliament, saying elected leaders play a role in presenting community needs to the central government.
The minister also commended the youth for remaining active in church activities, encouraging them to maintain their faith while pursuing economic advancement.
The call for financial discipline was echoed by Kkungu Parish priest Rev Fr Max Ssekiwala, who warned young people against immediately spending whatever money they earn.
“Do not waste the money that God has given you,” Fr Ssekiwala said, urging the youth to invest in activities capable of generating additional income.
He advised them to remain patient in their pursuit of financial success, noting that sustainable wealth is generally built over time through planning, saving and consistent effort.
“Dream big but go slowly. Do not think about getting everything at once. The wealthy people you see have spent years planning and working towards their success,” he said.
The youth projects are being spearheaded by Lawrence Ssengendo and Maria Nakaayi, with support from Bukuya Constituency MP Dr Michael Bukenya Kyalikoola.
The group is now seeking Shs50 million to strengthen its youth SACCO and expand its lending capacity.
According to the group, the money would be used for registration and legal fees, establishing a loan fund, paying staff and acquiring office equipment.
With more than 80 members, the St John Bosco Kkungu Youth Apostolate aims to use collective savings, affordable credit and income-generating projects to address unemployment and poverty among young people.
The initiative reflects a growing effort by the youth to turn small, regular contributions into capital for enterprise, with the group hoping that a stronger SACCO will enable more members to start or expand businesses.
