Nakivale Youth Turn Agricultural Skills Into Income Under Y-Connect Initiative

What the report says

More than 1,700 young people in Nakivale Refugee Settlement and nearby host communities are turning agricultural training into small businesses under the Y-Connect initiative, according to Nile Post. The programme, which was launched in December 2024, teaches practical skills such as poultry keeping, piggery, vegetable growing and agricultural value addition, while also providing start-up capital to help participants begin earning income.

The article says the Shs5.4 billion project is backed by development partners, including the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands through AVSI Foundation, and is designed to support self-reliance in Isingiro District. Beneficiaries interviewed by the publisher said the training and cash support helped them start or expand ventures, reduce dependence on aid and meet household needs. Some reported using the funds for trading or crop production, while others said earnings were helping cover school-related expenses.

Nile Post also reported that the initiative extends into secondary schools such as Nakivale Secondary School and Rubondo Community Secondary School, where students apply agricultural lessons in practical settings. School leaders and district agriculture officials said the model can build skills, improve food security and prepare learners for life after school.

As the 25-month programme nears its end, attention is shifting to whether the businesses will remain viable without donor support. AVSI said it has focused on market links, savings groups and coordination with local authorities and other stakeholders to help sustain the ventures beyond the project period.