The Deputy Director General of the Internal Security Organization (ISO), Colonel Emmy Katabazi, has implored the Mbale ghetto youth to involve themselves in income-generating activities that will help them eradicate poverty and improve their economic well-being.
Col Katabazi was meeting the ghetto youth of Mbale city at Mbale Secondary School in Mbale city on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
He assured the ghetto youth that Uganda is their country, where they should serve with dignity and that peace and security will continue prevailing. He promised to work hand in hand with them to ensure that all join the money economy for socio-economic transformation.
Col Katabazi tasked the Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Asumin Nasike, to ensure that the youth access the youth programs and the Parish Development Model (PDM) in order to alleviate poverty and attain socio-economic transformation.
He further noted that Mbale, being an industrial park with several industries coming in place, more jobs will be created to improve the economic well-being of the locals.
The Colonel highlighted the issue of education, saying that the government put in place UPE schools that are free of charge, cautioning the headteachers against charging the children money.
“Headteachers should not charge any children money in government schools because they were put in place for individuals that can’t afford private schools so that everyone attains education to eradicate illiteracy levels,” Col Katabazi said.
Additionally, the deputy Director General urged the ghetto youth to maintain discipline, as it is the master key for unlocking transformative change and promoting economic growth.
The RCC said that she met with the ghetto youth to align and develop themselves through the formulated SACCOs under the umbrella of Bugisu Ghetto SACCOs, which are eight in number.
“I’m happy to inform you that the ghetto youth formed SACCOs and are saving,” she said.
She added that the ghetto youth are helping on matters of security to fight criminality in the city by being each other’s keeper and watchdogs.
On the issue of SACCOs that were formed by the ghetto youth, Col Katabazi promised to give them a hand in ensuring that they expand, guiding them not to keep the money in the banks but to keep it in circulation by loaning it out to make profits.
The ghetto president, Ali Mugerwa, commended the ghetto youth for maintaining security and thanked the RCC for working hand in hand with them to ensure that criminality is fought.
He urged the ghetto youth to maintain discipline and requested them to support the initiatives put in place by the government with the help of President Museveni.
The ghetto youth, who are more than 200 in number, are involved in businesses, including metal works, shoemaking, plastic recycling, mechanical works, boda boda riding, and hairdressing, among others, to improve their livelihood.
