Minister Barugahara appeals for UN support for youth SMEs

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NEW YORK - Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara has called for the empowerment of small businesses that support employment in Uganda.

Barugahara made the remarks while meeting Mayara Louzada, the head of youth and trade programme at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York.

Barugahara was recently in the United States for the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum 2024 session at the United Nations Headquarters where hundreds of youth representatives turned up from various countries.

The youth forum was organised under the theme: “Youth shaping sustainable and innovative solutions, reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of Crises."

"Our film Industry and music industry will benefit more from International Trade centre (ITC) Projects rolling out soon in Uganda," Barugahara told New Vision on the sidelines of the meeting that had the presence of Michelle Lau-Burke a representative and liaison officer from International Trade Centre at the United Nations.

Research conducted by the International Growth Center in 2020, indicated that  Uganda which experienced one of the toughest lockdowns during COVID-19 pandemic period faces a high risk of pushing youth back to poverty and lower economic activity.

"Leading Small and medium enterprises had a cut back on salaries and paid off workers. Profits went down by over 50 percent between January 2020 and August 2020 and over 20 percent of firms laid off workers," the report stated in part.

The report notes how large parts of the population in countries like Uganda lack access to social protection systems, youth could not work from home and many homesteads had limited savings to draw from the immediate effects of lockdowns likely to increase poverty, hunger and destitution.

The report sampled 1,642 firms of which 27 percent were from manufacturing, 62 percent from retail, 10 percent in service sector, and 38 percent were female.

Small businesses in Uganda are significant contributors to growth and comprise 90 percent of employment of the labour force.

During the 2024 ECOSOC youth summit, Barugahara appealed to Diene Keita, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director ( Programme) United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA) to support government efforts in eradicating poverty amongst young People through setting up standard skilling centers, equipping and financing the young population.

"This will create and boost entrepreneurs to solve the unemployment, underemployment and improve the living standards," Barugahara argued.

Guterres calls for peace and prosperity

During the Economic and Social Council Youth Forum, Antonia Guterres, the UN secretary General expressed challenges youth are facing such as hunger, poverty, and many who are out of school.

Guterres called for peace in Gaza were thousands of children have been killed and lost one or both parents.

"It's high time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, the protection of civilians, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid," Guterres said in a statement to the youth and government representatives.

Guterres revealed how the sustainable development goals (SDGs) are off track and that climate change was spiraling downwards.

"Emissions continue to rise and the fossil fuel industry, in its immense greed, tries to block change at every turn," Guterres added.

Guterres added how a new youth office at the United Nations had been created to advance, coordinate, participate, and hold accountable those in power.

A high-level advisory board on Artificial intelligence (AI) to make recommendations on international governance of AI was also underway.

"We are also working to advance a global digital compact to help build a world where digital technologies support sustainable development including education and jobs for young people," Guterres said.

"We need you," Guterres told young people around the world as he encouraged youth to speak out and work for real change.

Guterres encouraged youth to sign the open letter launched by the UN youth office to world leaders to demand a sustainable future for all.

"Our climate is in meltdown and the poorest are paying the price," Guterres noted.
Guterres added how a panel on critical energy transition minerals will be created to help ensure developing countries like Uganda benefit from the transition.

"Developed countries must keep their promises on climate finance," Guterres noted as he urged the present youth to provide hope in a world filled with carelessness.