By Jumah Kakomo
The government and Heifer International Uganda have launched a new farming season under the Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment (SAYE) project that aims to empower youth through improved access to agricultural technology and resources.
This initiative aims to empower young people through improved access to agricultural technology and resources. The SAYE project, a $48 million initiative, runs from 2023 to 2029 and focuses on improving skills, expanding market access, offering inclusive financing, diversifying value chains, embracing tech solutions, and adopting climate-smart agriculture.
The Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment (SAYE) project was launched in the Busoga sub-region of Eastern Uganda on 07th/07/2025, also aims to empower young people aged 16 to 35 in agribusiness. The project is a collaborative effort between the government and Heifer International Uganda.
The commissioning of this project was led by Hon. Fred Kyakulaga Bwiino, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal industry and fisheries, and also a member of parliament of Kigulu North in Iganga district.
Kyakulaga says that the government is working hard to help youths find jobs through farming, adding that the Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment (SAYE) project is already making a positive impact in the region.
” William Matovu, Country Director of Heifer International Uganda, says the project has already helped many youths. “We have a plan to support 250,000 youth. So far, over 50,000 of them have joined the program. About 27,700 youth have already found work in farming activities like poultry, growing vegetables, and dairy farming,” Matovu said.
He stresses that, despite these achievements, challenges persist, including limited access to capital, land, and market opportunities.
John Ssenyonga, the head of Heifer International Uganda in Busoga region, says that SAYE project in partnership with Mastercard foundation, aims to empower youths, through skill development in key sectors such as poultry horticulture among others.
Project Objectives:
Empower Youth: Equip 250,000 young people with skills, knowledge, and resources to start and sustain agribusiness ventures.
Improve Socio-Economic Well-being: Enhance the socio-economic well-being and resilience of young people in the Busoga sub-region.
Promote Inclusive Economic Growth: Foster inclusive economic growth by targeting sectors with low entry barriers and high market potential.
Key Components:
Agri-Hubs: Establish youth- and farmer-led Agri-hubs to provide access to technical, business, and financial products and services.
Skills Training: Offer skills training and business incubation to support young entrepreneurs.
Financial Inclusion: Provide access to financial services, including loans and credit facilities, to support young people in starting or expanding their agribusinesses.
Value Chain Development: Focus on developing value chains in poultry, horticulture, oilseed, dairy, and beef sectors.
Impact:
Job Creation: Create 33,000 new jobs for young people in agribusiness and related sectors.
Economic Resilience: Enhance the economic resilience of young people in the Busoga sub-region.
Women Empowerment: Target 70% of participants to be young women, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment
The SAYE project is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of young people in the Busoga sub-region, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to succeed in agribusiness and contribute to the local economy.
