Israel Maniraguha, the head of mobilization for the Ghetto Initiative in the Bunyoro sub-region, while addressing hundreds of ghetto youth in Kiryatete East, a suburb of Hoima City, explained that the initiative aims to equip them with skills to deter them from engaging in criminal activities.
Emmanuel Sempijja,the Albertine regional police community liason officer-CLO in uniform engaging the ghetto youth in Kiryatete, a suburb of Hoima city.
The government has initiated a program to organize ghetto youth in Hoima City and other parts of the Bunyoro sub-region to economically empower them under the "Ghetto Initiative Bunyoro."
Israel Maniraguha, the head of mobilization for the Ghetto Initiative in the Bunyoro sub-region, while addressing hundreds of ghetto youth in Kiryatete East, a suburb of Hoima City, explained that the initiative aims to equip them with skills to deter them from engaging in criminal activities.
He stated that the project is under the Police’s Department of Crime Intelligence, and efforts are underway to mobilize and register the youth so they can benefit from government programs.
Maniraguha noted that the government plans to provide start-up capital to youth who join productive and developmental groups.
He emphasized that engaging youth in income-generating activities will help eradicate poverty and improve their lives. He further explained that the government will ensure the ghetto youth access various programs, such as the Youth Livelihood Fund and the Parish Development Model (PDM), to achieve poverty eradication and socio-economic transformation in their communities.
He challenged the youth to maintain discipline and avoid criminality.
Runyoro Byte:
//Cue in: “Mobilisation ya ghetto…
Cue out: …Enkozi ze bibi.”//
Emmanuel Ssempija, the Albertine Region Police Community Liaison Officer, encouraged the youth to organize themselves into manageable groups to benefit from government programs.
Ssempija explained that the program would involve skilling ghetto youth and helping them acquire practical skills. He also urged them to collaborate with local leaders.
Luganda Byte:
//Cue in: “Tusa ku tusa…
Cue out: …mukitegera baganda bange.”//
Sula Nyakojo, the Chairperson of Sanisiro Ghetto, noted that not all ghetto dwellers are criminals and called on the government to support them in starting income-generating businesses to improve their well-being. He said the government’s support would enable the youth to join the money economy and achieve socio-economic transformation. He emphasized the need for both financial and moral support.
Runyoro Byte:
//Cue in: “Bo basa kubaza…
Cue out: …mutu waire etandikwa.”//
Muhammed Kabanda, one of the ghetto youth, appealed to the government to consider them as a special group under the PDM program. He lamented that they have been excluded due to the perception that they cannot repay the money.
Juma Asiimwe, the LC 1 Chairman of Kiryatete Lower, encouraged the youth to embrace skill development and avoid criminality.
Asiimwe urged the ghetto youth to participate in government poverty alleviation programs, such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), to improve their livelihoods.