Tension and disappointment are brewing among youth living in the ghettos of Mukono District, who claim they have not benefited from the money President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni pledged to support them with in 2023 under his ‘nationwide ghetto empowerment program’.
In December 2023, President Museveni promised to channel Shs100 million to each ghetto Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCO) across the country to help members start small businesses, promote self-employment, and steer them away from poverty and crime.
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The funds, which were meant to transform lives of struggling urban youth, were eventually deposited into the accounts of selected SACCOs in mid-2024. But nearly a year later, many young people in Mukono say they have not seen a single coin.
“We Were Left With Nothing”
According to the disgruntled youth, the money has not reached its intended beneficiaries. They accuse their local SACCO leaders of diverting the funds for personal gain and locking out genuine members from the initiative.
“I was registered under the SACCO with hopes that I would receive support to start a small business,” said Vincent Semakula, a resident of Kiyunga ghetto.
“But when the money came, our leaders took it for themselves and even grabbed the motorcycles that were supposed to help us. We were left with nothing.”
Semakula says the alleged betrayal has left many ghetto youths disillusioned.
“If government doesn’t intervene, some may go back to crime to survive,” he warned.
“They Silenced Us Whenever We Asked”
Another resident, Zahara Namuswa, a single mother in Mukono’s Kame Valley area, accused their chairperson, Dickson Mazinga, and his executive committee of mismanaging the funds.
“They kept silencing us whenever we asked about the money,” Namuswa said bitterly. “We have so many needs, and this was our only hope. We have now sent a message to the President in a language he understands best—asking him to come and see for himself what is happening.”
Mistrust and Political Tension
Leaders of other ghetto groups in Mukono, such as Alvin Kayira of Beganzi in Mukono Central Division, say the controversy has sown mistrust and divisions among the youth.
“We tried to follow up on the funds but were told the money had been handled by officials ‘from above,’” Kayira said. “Now our people see us as failures. We are asking the President to revisit this program and replace corrupt leaders with transparent ones who truly care about ghetto transformation.”
He noted that some alleged beneficiaries were chosen based on political ties and favoritism, undermining the spirit of empowerment that the President had envisioned.
Leaders Deny Wrongdoing
When contacted for comment, the embattled chairperson, Mazinga, dismissed the allegations as “baseless.” He maintained that the funds were properly managed and that some beneficiaries received loans but misused them.
“Those who are complaining are the ones who failed to manage their money,” Mazinga said. “We have photos and records of people who received motorcycles and used them for ghetto projects. None of the money was taken by my family or committee members.”
Mazinga added that they were guided by Gen. Christopher Ddamulira, the Director of Criminal Investigations, to keep politics out of the ghetto empowerment program, warning that some groups were using it to create divisions.
The SACCO treasurer, Daudi Were, also defended the leadership, saying efforts were ongoing to reconcile financial records and resolve misunderstandings.
“We ask members to be patient as we sort out internal accountability issues,” Were said.
Fear of Lost Hope
Despite these assurances, anger and frustration remain high. Many ghetto youth say they feel abandoned by the very initiative that was supposed to uplift them.
Community activists and local leaders have urged State House and the Office of the National Coordinator for Wealth Creation to directly investigate how the funds were utilized in Mukono and other districts.
“If this program fails, it will not only deepen poverty but also erode trust between young people and government,” said a youth leader from Mukono Municipality who preferred anonymity.
As investigations continue, the once-celebrated ghetto empowerment program risks turning into a story of lost hope — unless urgent measures are taken to restore transparency, trust, and accountability.
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