Uganda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Nusura Tiperu, has urged young people in Koboko Municipality to organise themselves, demand accountability from leaders and take advantage of government livelihood programmes.
Tiperu made the call while meeting representatives from more than 25 ghetto youth groups in the border town. Many of the youths earn a living in the informal sector, supporting cross-border trade with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
She described Koboko as a strategically important town, saying its young people are already playing a key role in the local economy. However, she noted that limited information, weak organisation and poor coordination have prevented many from benefiting from government initiatives.
“The youth here are working and contributing,” Tiperu said. “What they need is clear information, proper organisation and fair access to government programmes.”
During the meeting, youth leaders expressed frustration over delays and unclear procedures in accessing programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other wealth-creation initiatives. Tiperu acknowledged the challenges, blaming them on poor communication and weak coordination at the local level.
“These resources are meant to help the people,” she said. “If they are not reaching the youth, then someone must be held responsible.”
She also pointed to peace and security as Koboko’s biggest strength, noting that the town has remained stable despite being close to conflict-affected neighbouring countries.
Several local leaders, including Charles Ayume, attended the meeting and committed to improving awareness, sensitisation and follow-up on government programmes. Youth representatives welcomed the engagement and called for stronger umbrella organisations to better connect ghetto groups with government offices and development partners.
