President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been praised for expanding efforts to organise and economically empower ghetto communities across Busoga and other parts of Uganda through the Ghetto Structure Initiative, a programme aimed at reducing crime and improving livelihoods.
The commendation was made by the Deputy National Coordinator of the Ghetto Structure Project, Maj. Emma Kutesa, during the Busoga Sub-region Ghetto Structure Leaders’ Retreat held at Bishop Willis Centre in Iganga Municipality on Sunday.
The three-day retreat, themed “Empowering the Ghettos for a Crime-Free Society,” brought together leaders from 131 ghetto depots across the Busoga sub-region. It was organised by the Office of the Special Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilisation and Deputy Press Secretary to the President, Alhaji Faruk Kirunda, in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force’s Crime Intelligence Directorate.
Maj. Kutesa said the initiative was introduced by President Museveni to uplift disadvantaged youth by creating organised structures through which they can access government wealth creation programmes and improve their livelihoods.
He applauded the Director of Crime Intelligence and National Coordinator of the Ghetto Structure Project, AIGP Maj. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira, for assessing the challenges facing ghetto communities in Busoga and recommending government intervention.
According to Maj. Kutesa, many young people had previously missed out on government programmes because they were unfairly perceived as criminals. He said the President’s decision to inject funds into ghetto SACCOs had opened opportunities for thousands of youth to engage in income-generating activities.
He urged the leaders to mobilise fellow youth to embrace government wealth creation initiatives, fight poverty and work closely with security agencies to eliminate crime within their communities.
Maj. Kutesa also warned against corruption in the management of SACCO funds, saying only genuine beneficiaries should access government support and promising additional funding for well-managed SACCOs.
National Female Youth MP Mercy Kanyesigye encouraged the youth to utilise the financial support responsibly and acquire vocational and technical skills to improve their livelihoods.
She also urged them to avoid drug abuse, protect themselves against HIV/AIDS and continue working with security agencies to promote peace and development.
The Commissioner in charge of the RDC Secretariat for Eastern Uganda, Col. Dhamuzungu Oguli, called on ghetto leaders to use the structures as platforms for promoting discipline, fighting crime and mobilising communities to participate in government poverty eradication programmes such as the Parish Development Model.
He encouraged communities with access to land to adopt President Museveni’s Four-Acre Model and invest in profitable enterprises, including coffee farming.
Several government officials praised the initiative, saying it had transformed the lives of many young people by helping them establish businesses and abandon criminal activities.
Luuka Assistant RDC Rogers Ntogona revealed that each ghetto SACCO across the 11 Busoga districts and Jinja City received Shs100 million, enabling many beneficiaries to start businesses and improve their incomes.
Participants described the retreat as life-changing, saying it had equipped them with leadership, business and financial management skills.
Mayuge District Ghetto President Naikoba Rehema said the training had inspired participants to reject crime and focus on entrepreneurship, while Iganga District Ghetto President Frank Tanaz noted that the programme had helped change negative perceptions about ghetto communities.
The retreat also concluded with the election of a new Busoga Regional Ghetto Structure Executive to oversee activities across the region’s 11 districts and Jinja City.
Blessing Byakika of Jinja City was elected Busoga Ghetto Giant after defeating Sserwanga Ahmed of Bugiri District.
In his acceptance speech, Byakika thanked President Museveni for supporting ghetto youth through empowerment programmes and pledged to promote unity, accountability and community development across the region.
