Youth Bulge and Income Generating Activities [IGAs]: A Case of Youth Livelihood Programme [YLP] in Wakiso District, Central Uganda

摘要

The study focused on the need for income generation activities as a response to the challenge of a bulging youth population. When neglected, youth bulge has effects on the socio-economic development process of countries that could result into catastrophic consequences especially for poor countries whose ability to plan, provide for and reap demographic dividends is low. Globally, historical and current analysis of conflicts, suggest that between 1970 and 1999, close to 80% of civil unrest and conflict took place in countries with 60% of their population below age of 30. Utilising a qualitative research approach, this study took a case of Wakiso district in central Uganda, to examine the extent to which the youth livelihood programme (YLP) has enable youth set up income generating activities for self-employment. YLP was an initiative of the Government of Uganda (GOU) to assist multitudes of youth acquire employment and improve their standards of living with a view of averting the negative consequences of bulging youth population (MGLSD, 2013). Data was collected using group and in-depth interviews, documentary review, and observation. A sample of 67 respondents was purposively selected. Findings revealed that, the financial support extended to youth was awfully inadequate to facilitate and support establishment of effective and sustainable IGAs. Furthermore, it was awfully, it was established that, YLP opted to deal with youth who had already established enterprises with own capital from various sources and as such, rather than provide financial support for youth to establish IGAs, YLP facilitated recapitalization and boosting of existing youth enterprises. The study recommended that, YLP overhauls its operational framework to enable provision of adequate financial support and include youth without running enterprise among target beneficiary categories since they are equally distressed and needy.