Many Ugandans still believe in the power of cooperatives and that they can create positive change in the plight of the country’s dominant yet largely unemployed youth population. A mini-impromptu online survey conducted among some categories of Ugandans found that they think Uganda needs to prioritize funding for small-scale industrial production cooperative enterprises to transform the majority and most energetic citizens.

Deborah Wendiro, a scientist specializing in industrial research and value-addition, says the Government should prioritize carefully studied, efficiently managed cooperatives anchored on small-scale agricultural commodity enterprises to absorb both skilled and semi-skilled youth.

Wendiro, Chair of Ugandan Women in Agricultural Research and Development (UGAWARD), proposes that the country first needs to implement an innovation systems approach to job creation and enterprise development.

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