By KT Reporter
Soroti District has received nearly UGX 990 million under the Youth Livelihood Programme since 2014. But twelve years later, only 25 percent of the funds have been recovered, several youth projects have collapsed, and youth unemployment remains high — raising questions about whether the programme has truly delivered on its promise of economic empowerment.
The Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, was introduced to support unemployed and underemployed youth through financing income-generating projects.
According to Soroti District Senior Community Development Officer Sarah Aguti, the district has received funding for 114 youth groups since the programme began in 2014. Records show that four youth groups — Oyomai Youth Bakery Project, Opucet Youth Carpentry, Akere Youth Poultry and Obalanga Youth Spare Parts Dealers — each received between UGX 12 million and UGX 12.2 million.
Another thirteen groups received between UGX 11 million and UGX 11.93 million. Five groups — Abule B Youth Chairs and Tents Project, Kakere Youth Apiary Group, Amorutu Youth Concrete Suppliers, Obuku Ebumakinos Jokan Ekeunos Youth Secretarial Bureau and Asuroi Youth Poultry Association — received between UGX 10 million and UGX 10.9 million. At the lower end, Alere Youth Brick Making Project received UGX 4 million, making it the least funded among the 114 supported initiatives.
However, ministry records indicate that while UGX 990 million was sent to the district, about UGX 34 million remains unaccounted for. The programme was designed with strict procedures to ensure transparency. Local leaders, including LC1 chairpersons, were expected to mobilise communities and participate in selecting beneficiaries.
But in Obutet village in Ocokehan Sub- County, LC1 chairperson David Emmanuel Okasi said local leaders were not involved in the process. Some district officials also acknowledged that in certain cases, families reorganised themselves into youth groups in order to qualify for funding.
An audit conducted in 2018 revealed that Acetgwen Youth Initiative had failed to repay UGX 6.35 million after its project collapsed. When district officials were asked to explain the failure, they admitted that there had been “failure to properly evaluate submitted business plans for the youth groups.”
YLP was structured as a revolving fund through which unemployed youth could access capital without collateral or interest, repayable within three years at a five percent annual user charge. But in Soroti, repayment has remained low. Out of UGX 956,168,100 disbursed, only UGX 257,580,990 has been recovered, leaving a balance of over UGX 698 million unpaid.
Since 2019, the Office of the Auditor General has consistently raised concerns about the district’s failure to recover the funds, warning that “the accumulation of unsustainable arrears and delays in settlement of such obligations are a risk…” and undermine the objectives of the programme.
Only nine groups have fully repaid their loans. These are Okalis Lira Youth Piggery Project, Tubur Development Agency, Omagoro Youth Grinding Mill, Gwetom Youth Produce Buying and Selling Group, Arapai–Obitio Youth Poultry Project, Abata Youth Agro Processing Project, Awasi Youth Bakery Project, Otac Youth Group and Obongoi Youth Produce Group.
At the same time, ten groups — including Abalang Youth Poultry Project, Akere Youth Poultry, Akure B Youth Poultry, Opiyai B Apex Youth Shoe Makers, Anyoutu Obakor Youth Produce Group, St. Stephen Opiyai Poultry Project and Acetgwen Youth Initiative — have not repaid any of the money they received.
Most of the remaining groups have returned between 0.5 and 20 percent of what was disbursed. Aguti attributes the district’s failure to recover funds within the expected period to several operational challenges. Former Kamuda Sub- County youth councillor Moses Eladu says internal leadership issues also played a role, noting that some group leaders were not honest with members when they received the funds.
The programme was intended to equip youth with self-employment skills and support income generation. However, a July 2025 study conducted by researchers from Metropolitan International University and Kampala International University found that while YLP improved access to short-term financial support, it fell short of achieving sustainable poverty reduction.
The study noted that “while the YLP played a vital role in fostering youth empowerment through skill development and improved access to daily needs, its overall objective of sustainable poverty reduction remains largely unmet.” The researchers cited inadequate financial literacy, weak monitoring and insufficient training as key factors undermining effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the 2024 household survey indicates that 57.3 percent of youth aged between 18 and 30 in Soroti are not in employment, education or training.
Hundreds of millions of shillings have been invested in youth projects in the district. Yet many of the projects have collapsed, large amounts of money remain unrecovered, and youth unemployment remains high.
Twelve years after YLP funds reached Soroti, the promise of youth empowerment remains largely unpaid — both financially and socially.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
