Kwania recovers Shs 90mln from youth

KWANIA – Authorities in Kwania district have so far recovered Shs 90 million from the beneficiaries of the Youth Livelihood Programme [YLP] run by the Gender ministry.

In mid-2014, the government through the Gender ministry disbursed a total of Shs 265 billion under YLP largely to lift the poor and unemployed youth in the country to engage in income-generating activities out of poverty.

However, out of the Shs 700mln disbursed to 191 youth groups in Kwania district, only a sum of Shs 90mln has been recovered with about Shs 610mln that is said to have landed in the wrong hands not recovered.

The poor performance of the youth loan scheme is partly blamed to poor enterprise selection, wrong mindset and lack of financial literacy trainings.

Geoffrey Alex Ogwal Adyebo, the Kwania district LCV chairman recently told this reporter that most of the YLP beneficiaries fled to other districts after sharing the money and spending it luxuriously.

“Most of them received the money and took off to other districts like Nakasongola, Amolatar and others went to Kampala after spending the money recklessly but as the district, we are following them closely to ensure the money is recovered,” he said.

Recovered fund dishes out

Meanwhile at least 8 out of 191 registered youth groups in the district have received the funds under Phase-II of this programme. The youth groups drawn from Inomo, Nambieso, Chawente, Atongtidi, Ayabi and Aduku have each received Shs 11mln under the youth loan.

Moses Opio, the YLP Focal Point Person for Kwania district says groups that received the money met the requirements.

“The eight youth groups that we have given money this financial year 2023/24 met the requirement. This is a revolving fund so I want to encourage them to use this money for what they requested money for and pay back so that others also benefit,” he said.

While disbursing the money to the beneficiaries on Monday, Kwania resident district commissioner, Arikwanga Richard Noon asked the beneficiaries to use the money to use the money productively to improve on their livelihoods.

“You guys are so lucky here that you still have a lot of business opportunities with vast fertile land unlike some of us who hails from Karamoja. Please, use this money well. Let the money help you to tap the available business opportunities so that you kick out poverty and improve on your livelihoods,” he said.

Pius Ewac, the community development officer of Inomo town council implored the YLP beneficiaries to desist from the reckless lifestyles and embrace the saving culture.

“As there goes a saying, save before you spend. I want to request you to save money. Poor saving culture and reckless lifestyles is what has made most of you poor. You want to eat pork, you want to drink beer and hang out with new girlfriends in bars and night clubs. If you don’t work on the reckless lifestyles and start saving money regularly you will swim in poverty forever,” he said.

Group members who spoke to this reporter expressed excitement. Harriet Atworo, a member of Nen-anyim Youth Group in Aduku town council said she would use the money to open up a small business.

Another beneficiary Tonny Olara from Can-dag-nyoye youth group in Chawente Sub-county is optimistic he will service his loan well unlike in the past.

“In the past some leaders were demanding for kickbacks and most youth got discouraged but that is now history. I don’t think I will fail to pay back this money with the favourable rainfall. I have cultivated watermelon and rice that I hope to reap big,” he said in an interview.

YLP targets to benefit 245,870 youth countrywide. The Shs 265 billion earmarked under the programme is advanced as a revolving fund.

In order to increase outreach and enhance sustainability of the programme, all repayments made within the first 12 months of the youth loan is interest free and only 5 percent per annum is charged for repayments exceeding 1 year, according to Gender ministry.

https://thecooperator.news/kenya-afdb-okays-funds-to-support-women-and-youth-in-agribusiness/

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