The Ghetto Structures Initiative has become one of Uganda’s most impactful urban youth programs, showing how economic empowerment can change lives and improve security. Now marking four years of operation, the initiative has already injected Shs3.2 billion into ghetto communities, with an additional Shs5 billion promised and expected soon. Through this program, about 200,000 young people living in informal urban settlements are gaining skills, income, and hope for a better future.
The initiative was officially launched on August 5, 2022, at Lugogo Indoor Stadium by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, and the Minister for Kampala, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda. It was formed as a joint effort between State House and the Directorate of Crime Intelligence. The main goal was to organize and economically empower ghetto youth, many of whom were vulnerable to crime, political violence, drug abuse, and exploitation due to unemployment and poverty.
Since its launch, Ghetto Structures has expanded to several urban areas, including the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area—covering Kampala and Mukono—Masaka, Jinja, Mbale, Fort Portal, and Luwero District. Kampala remains the heart of the program, where the initiative is organized across 216 ghetto zones. According to the Director of Crime Intelligence, Major General Christopher Damulira, these zones collectively benefit an estimated 200,000 young people who live and work in these communities.
One of the strongest pillars of the initiative is the formation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs). These SACCOs allow ghetto youth to save money, access affordable loans, and invest in small businesses. In the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, 12 SACCOs each received Shs100 million, totaling Shs1.2 billion. The Busoga region also has 12 SACCOs that received the same amount, adding another Shs1.2 billion. In Mbale, eight active SACCOs received Shs100 million each, totaling Shs800 million. Altogether, this brings the total money injected so far to Shs3.2 billion.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has gone further by promising an additional Shs1 billion for each SACCO in Kampala’s five divisions, amounting to Shs5 billion that is currently in the pipeline. He explained that Kampala’s large population and the responsible way beneficiaries have used the initial funds justified the increased support. Speaking to ghetto youth, the President encouraged transparency, unity, and accountability, emphasizing that this support was only the beginning.
The President also praised leaders driving the initiative, especially Gen Damulira and Maj Emmanuel Kutesa, for what he described as “bringing light into the ghetto.” He reminded the youth that they are an important part of Uganda’s development journey and encouraged them to create wealth through government-prioritized sectors such as commercial agriculture, industry and artisanship, services, and ICT. He assured them of continued government support through skills training and start-up capital.
Beyond improving livelihoods, the initiative has also brought major security benefits. Gen Damulira notes that crime levels in Kampala have reduced significantly because many former offenders now have businesses and savings to protect. Young people who run boda bodas, food stalls, or small shops are less likely to engage in violence, knowing that instability would destroy their source of income.
The program has also helped identify and support talent within ghetto communities. Young singers, painters, and other creatives have been guided and supported to turn their talents into income-generating activities, proving that ghettos are not centers of crime, but places full of untapped potential.
As Ghetto Structures enters its fifth year, leaders believe it should be formalized into a national program like PDM, YLP, or UWEP. If adopted, it could reach even more urban poor communities and play a major role in Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. By combining security, skills, and economic inclusion, Ghetto Structures is steadily turning informal settlements into productive and hopeful communities.
