ONC Boss Namyalo Meets Ghetto youths ,  Vows to Fast-track Development Programs  

The Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) and Senior Presidential Advisor/Presidential Assistant, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, on Monday welcomed a group of more than 100 ghetto youth  who thronged her Kyambogo office seeking empowerment and clearer access to government programmes aimed at transforming their livelihoods.

A gathering that began as a petition quickly turned into a candid conversation about opportunity, trust and inclusion as more than 100 youths from Makindye, Katwe and Kisenyi converged at the Office of the National Chairman in Kyambogo, seeking answers on why government empowerment programmes often feel out of reach.

Their concerns, delivered in a mix of frustration and hope, centred on access to funding and jobs that many say exist on paper but rarely translate into real support on the ground.

The meeting drew the attention of ONC Manager and Senior Presidential Advisor Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, who listened as the youths described repeated attempts to tap into initiatives such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and the Ghetto Structures Fund.

Several speakers said bureaucratic hurdles and alleged favouritism by local administrators had discouraged many from even applying. Moses Kato from Kisenyi told the meeting that despite constant reminders that the funds are meant for ordinary citizens, access often depends on connections rather than need. “We want a fair system where the ghetto youth can benefit without being blocked,” he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Amina Nansubuga from Katwe, who said many young people had grown weary of processes that rarely yield results. She noted that the willingness to work was there, but the pathways to support remained unclear.

Others took the opportunity to outline practical areas where empowerment could make an immediate difference, pointing to skills in welding, mechanics, car washing, tailoring, hairdressing and small scale food businesses.

One youth leader remarked that targeted tools and equipment would reduce dependence on handouts and restore dignity through work.

The delegation was accompanied by Katwe Police Division Community Liaison Officer ASP Gilbert Nyaika and Makindye Division youth coordinator Mugisha Meddie, whose presence underscored a broader push to channel youthful energy toward productivity.

Nyaika later commended the group for choosing engagement over unrest, saying open dialogue and skills development were essential for safer communities. “When young people are busy and skilled, crime loses its appeal,” he observed.

Among those who spoke were youths with formal qualifications who said they had struggled to secure placements despite meeting requirements.

Orishaba Joviah appealed for institutional backing to help skilled applicants find opportunities within agencies such as Kampala Capital City Authority and the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.

She also suggested extending skilling hubs into informal settlements to ensure training is matched with start up tools that enable self employment.

In her response, Namyalo acknowledged the frustrations and described them as a reflection of gaps that must be addressed if government programmes are to achieve their intended impact.

She pledged to follow up concerns about blocked access and bureaucracy, saying she would engage relevant offices and raise the matter with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni where necessary, particularly on the need to expand funding. “These programmes are meant to uplift you, not frustrate you,” she said, adding that she was committed to ensuring they reach the intended beneficiaries.

As an immediate step within her mandate, Namyalo announced plans to roll out practical empowerment tailored to the youths’ skills, citing items such as sewing machines, welding equipment, automotive toolkits, car wash machines and small scale food processing tools.

She assured the gathering that the first phase would begin within the week, even as longer term solutions to improve access to capital and training are pursued.