By Babra Anyait
In a bid to recognize the importance of equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowledge, government through the National Planning Authority and Gudie Leisure Farm have conducted extensive training and capacity-building initiatives in the Elgon region.
More than 1,200 people have benefited from entrepreneurship training, which has enhanced their business acumen and improved their chances of sustainable success.
Speaking at the Elgon Region Business Symposium held at the Gudie Leisure Farm in Kampala, the Executive Director Gudula Naiga Basaza said, the youth are embracing their role in transforming the region by being proactive, productive, planned, and profitable entrepreneurs.
Basaza added that they have engaged in value-chain linked agribusinesses and have held district skilling sessions for the different communities within the region that train weekly in the Parish Entrepreneurship Learning Associations (PELs) established to design advancement of their enterprises.
Meanwhile, the National Planning Authority senior planner in trade and tourism Othieno Odol who represented the Deputy Executive Direction Charles Oleny Ojok said to support the growth of the region, government allocated a substantial budget of Shs2 billion ($550,000) to provide financial assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Elgon region.
Othieno says the funding has been utilized to provide loans, grants, and subsidies to eligible businesses, enabling them to expand operations and invest in technology and enhance productivity.
