Government urged to invest in infrastructure to support youth in business

In an event organised by the National Youth Council dubbed The Youth AFCTA Business Symposium which was held at the Makerere University Business School main auditorium on Monday, 24 April 2023, the team lead, Youth for Tax Justice network, Allan Muhereza, said infrastructure such as broad band internet would play a crucial role in helping the youth involved in business.

“Besides allocating almost a quarter of our budget to debt servicing, does Government think of ways how it can invest in sectors that are crucial in facilitating business for the youth” Muhereza asked, adding that physical infrastructure such as roads are also crucial in facilitating business.

Muhereza said for youth to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), there has to be harmonisation of taxes across the borders.

“There has been economic growth in Uganda for the last 10 years, but it has not corresponded with revenue growth which makes it hard for Government to have enough money to facilitate trade for youth. For youth to benefit from AFCTA, there has to be harmonisation of taxes across borders as way of supporting the youth,” he said.

However, Leah Nduati, President African Youth Business Council, Kenya, said there has to be capacity building among Ugandan youth for them to be armed enough to exploit opportunities that may come as a result of AFCTA.

“For youth in Uganda to take advantage of the AFCTA, there has to be capacity building such as training of the youth in areas such as business,” Nduati said.

Phiona Nyamutoro, the youth representative in Parliament, while giving an address in during the event encouraged the youth to seek different opportunities in different areas. Nyamutoro encouraged the youth to take advantage of the internet to gain knowledge about different things.

“How does someone come here and say this is the first time they are hearing about AFTCA? The information about AFTCA is all over the internet. Use the internet to gain knowledge about different things,” she said.

She added: "I urge the youth out there to take advantage of Government youth programs that are meant to uplift them. Currently the Parish Development Model is on-going. There other programs such as Emyooga."

#FeatureByYTJN