This month, 20 youth-led agribusiness groups received $1,000 each in seed capital, marking a transformative milestone Kisoboka Africa’s work of increasing access to dignified work opportunities through championing rural entrepreneurship.
The Youth Enable Project Award Ceremony, hosted by Kisoboka Africa in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, celebrated young innovators who are turning community challenges into sustainable business solutions.
The ceremony represented the culmination of an intensive year-long journey that began with 810 youth aged 18 to 35, of whom 70% are female. Through a design thinking curriculum, these young entrepreneurs learned to identify pressing community problems and develop scalable solutions to create dignified and fulfilling work.
Speaking at the award event that happened on 22nd May, Stephen Katende, the Team Leader and Co-founder of Kisoboka Africa noted. “What we witnessed today goes beyond funding – it’s about unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of rural youth,” said “These young people have demonstrated remarkable resilience and passion throughout our rigorous training sessions. With the knowledge they’ve gained, I am confident their businesses will prosper.”
The journey to selecting the winning groups started during a three-day bootcamp held from April 23-25, 2025, where participants engaged in intensive sessions on business sustainability, market traction, and pitching skills. At the climax of the bootcamp, a competitive pitching event was held, where 27 groups presented three-minute pitch proposals to a panel of expert judges.
The 20 winning ideas showcased remarkable creativity and community focus. From coffee value-addition by Musubiro Youth Development Group, who are processing raw coffee into roasted and drinking coffee increasing profit margins by approximately 500%, milk processing by Busibo Youth Forum who are turning excess milk into ghee and yorghut to maize processing by Kabusirabo Youth group and other innovative agricultural technologies that address local challenges while generating income. Each solution demonstrates how young minds can transform obstacles into opportunities.
Our guest speaker, Mrs. Kiiza Josephine, a prominent agribusiness expert, praised the participants for their clear implementation of branding, differentiation, and agricultural value addition. “Continue to evolve with the changing market,” she urged the new entrepreneurs. “Your ability to adapt will determine your success.”
The ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including Mastercard Foundation representatives, Lwengo District Local Government officials, development partners, and prominent agribusiness experts, all united in supporting youth access to dignified work
For Jane Nyirampano, one of the award recipients, the project represents more than capital investment. “I feel empowered and confident to pursue opportunities I never imagined possible,” she shared. “The pitching skills and business knowledge I’ve gained have transformed how I see my future.”
Speaking at the event, Mr. Iga Fred, who represented Mastercard Foundation, emphasized the foundation’s commitment to increasing youth access to dignified and fulfilling work opportunities by partnering with youth-led organizations like Kisoboka Africa. He urged the youth to apply all the knowledge and skills gained from the training effectively.
The 20 funded groups have begun implementing their business plans, with each enterprise positioned to create multiple employment opportunities for other youth in their communities.
Kisoboka Africa will continue providing mentorship and guidance as these young entrepreneurs navigate the crucial early stages of business development. This ongoing support ensures that today’s seed capital grows into tomorrow’s thriving enterprises, creating a sustainable ecosystem of youth-led economic development in rural Uganda.
The Youth Enable Project demonstrates that when young people are equipped with the right tools, training, and capital, they solve problems and become the architects of their communities’ prosperity.
The Youth Enable Project is a one-year pilot initiative implemented by Kisoboka Africa in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, designed to empower rural youth access dignified and fulfilling work.
