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Mukono District, with support from the Government of Uganda through World Bank funding under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area – Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP), has engaged the business community of Nakifuma–Naggalama Town Council in a sensitization drive aimed at strengthening small-scale enterprises as a pathway to improving livelihoods and fighting poverty.
The engagement brought together small-scale business owners from the four parishes of Nakanyonyi, Kiggagga, Jumayi, Bamusuuta, and Nakifuma. In attendance were district technical staff, political leaders, facilitators, and town council officials.
The district team was led by the District Planner and GKMA-UDP Focal Person for Mukono District, Mr. Collines Ssebadduka, alongside the Principal Commercial Officer, Mr. Ntege Kenneth, Ms. Zamu Najjuma, and other facilitators. The Principal Town Clerk of Nakifuma–Naggalama Town Council, Mr. Kizito Francis Walubi, and political leaders led by the Area Mayor, Mr. Walusimbi Isa Nvule, also participated in the engagement.
In his address, Mr. Kizito Francis Walubi informed participants that the sensitization exercise marked the beginning of a broader initiative that will be extended to other parishes within the town council. He encouraged business operators to adopt smart management practices and maintain cleanliness and order at their workplaces, emphasizing that presentability plays a significant role in attracting customers, regardless of the size of the enterprise.
The Area Mayor, Mr. Walusimbi Isa, urged residents to develop a culture of investment rather than consumption. He noted that even small start-up capital can transform lives if profits are consistently reinvested to expand businesses steadily.
Hon. Lutaya Twaha Kamya, the Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Busuta Ward, described capital as a “strong weapon” for business growth and development. He further encouraged community members to actively participate in communal activities and to plant trees and fruit trees at their homes, highlighting their environmental and nutritional benefits.
During the training sessions, facilitator Mr. Nsilo Wilber guided participants on the importance of formalizing their businesses through registration, maintaining proper records, planning effectively, and conducting market surveys. He emphasized that recording all purchases and sales is essential for tracking business performance and planning for expansion. He also encouraged entrepreneurs to join registered small and medium enterprise groups that offer loans at relatively low interest rates.
Another facilitator, Mr. Rogers Muwonge, stressed the need for business operators to develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and ensure sustainability. He advised participants to make their enterprises resilient to daily uncertainties in order to minimize unnecessary losses and expenses.
Ms. Zamu Najjuma encouraged attendees to embrace government wealth creation programs such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM). She also informed parents and guardians about the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Youth, a fully funded program targeting youth aged 18 to 35 years who possess National Identification Cards.
She highlighted that the Presidential Industrial Hub in Kayunga offers practical skills training in tailoring, welding, bakery, carpentry, shoe making, and other trades. According to her, over 100 youth from Mukono District have already benefited from the initiative, with more than UGX 50 million available in the SACCO to support graduates upon completion of their training. The six-month program is fully funded by President Museveni through State House, and the next intake is expected in March.
The sensitization engagement left many business operators better equipped with practical knowledge and renewed determination to strengthen their enterprises.
By promoting proper business management practices and encouraging participation in government wealth creation programs, Mukono District continues to empower communities to fight poverty, increase household incomes, and contribute meaningfully to local economic development.
