16 Juakali (informal sector) groups have received 443 business tool kits and equipment from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development today, Thursday, 11th November, 2021. The equipment was procured under the Green Jobs Programme and Fair Labour Programme, fully funded by the government of Uganda. The Green Jobs Programme seeks to create green and decent jobs, increase labour productivity, reduce poverty while ensuring environmental sustainability.
According to Assistant Commissioner Labour Productivity and representative of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Alex Businge, climate change is greatly affecting the world and world over countries are coming up with means of sustaining the environment. A programme like Green Jobs that seeks to create jobs, sustain the environment and foster development, planning and securing the future for young people and generations to come is the kind of programme the government intends to focus on.
The Guest of Honour, Hon. Charles Okello Macodwogo Engola, Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, thanked the President for the mighty fight against Covid-19 using the containment measures which unfortunately had far reaching effects on the economy. For example, farms laid off workers in response to shortage of demand for their goods. Steps were taken by the government to sustain growth while balancing the containment of the pandemic.
Green Jobs Programme is one of the programmes supporting the informal sector (juakalis) and the private sector with the aim of them expanding their businesses. He then went onto hand over the equipment which includes motorcycles, water pumps, tailoring machines, plastic chairs, etc, to elected representatives of the 16 groups.
Rwot Okoka, representing the Rastafarian group in Kitgum, in his speech thanked President Museveni and the Kitgum Woman MP, Lilian Aber, for investing in the youth through the Green Jobs Programme. He also beckoned the youth not to use the equipment appropriately to work hard to liberate themselves from poverty instead of being entirely dependent on free things.
“It is very funny that in Africa we are used to free things. But I’m challenging my people, do not get used to free things but work for them,” emphatically said Okoka.
Ali Barizakiwa, one of the elected representatives of the Juakali groups from Kayunga, a 63-year-old engineer said he had a dream for the youth. This prompted him to start a group of car washers in the hope of bringing jobs to the uneducated youth without degrees to enable them make a living during these covid times. “We are happy and hope the government continues. The people should be patient and wait to see, “ said Ali excitedly.
Representing the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Mr. Businge took the guests through the criteria for selecting the 16 groups to benefit from the programme. The process involves groups applying, after which a needs assessment is conducted upon which a customized intervention is designed then a due diligence exercise to confirm the existence and authenticity of the groups and then verification is made by the district leaders. There have been two cohorts so far making this the third drawn from 6 districts.
“Young people you must know that nothing is given you for free, you must work for them. Make very good use of the equipment. We must work and be accountable. We want to see the ripple effect in job creation from these projects,” said Hon Lilian Aber.
