Beneficiaries of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) Empowerment Initiative have praised ONC Manager and Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, for helping communities improve their livelihoods through various empowerment programs.
The beneficiaries made the remarks during a courtesy visit to Hajjat Namyalo at her office in Kyambogo. They shared how the support they received had helped them start businesses, expand existing ones and increase their household incomes.
The delegation was led by the Greater Luwero Regional Coordinator, Mr Wasswa Tamale Abdukarim, and included local leaders and beneficiaries from Luwero and Nakaseke districts.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Sevire Hakim from Luwero Town Council, said the support he received helped him grow his poultry business from 200 to about 500 chickens.
He explained that he received chickens during Hajjat Namyalo's empowerment visit to Zirobwe Town Council. He also thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for appointing a leader who cares about improving the lives of ordinary Ugandans.
Another beneficiary, Mr Kavuma Twaha, a farmer from Bamunanika Constituency, thanked Hajjat Namyalo for supporting people at the grassroots level and helping them become financially independent.
Other beneficiaries, including Ms Kirungi Aisha and Ms Nakafero Florence, also expressed their appreciation, saying the chickens and goats they received had helped them improve their family incomes.
The delegation praised Hajjat Namyalo for her continued efforts to support communities and bring government programs closer to the people. They appealed to President Museveni to continue supporting the ONC Empowerment Initiative so that more Ugandans could benefit.
The beneficiaries also raised concerns about the poor state of roads in the Greater Luwero sub-region. They called for improvements to the Kisuule-Kapeeka, Zirobwe-Kikyusa and Bamugolodde roads to ease transport, support trade and promote economic development.
Speaking during the meeting, Hajjat Namyalo thanked the beneficiaries for making good use of the support they had received. She encouraged them to work hard, grow their businesses and take advantage of government programs aimed at creating wealth.
She emphasised that empowerment programs can only bring lasting results when beneficiaries use the resources responsibly and remain committed to their businesses.
Hajjat Namyalo also promised to continue working with well-wishers and other stakeholders to secure more resources and extend the initiative to more communities across Uganda.
She assured those who had not yet received their empowerment items that efforts were underway to ensure they also benefited from the program.
As a sign of appreciation, the delegation presented Hajjat Namyalo with gifts, including matooke, chickens, goats and pineapples.
The ONC Empowerment Initiative, introduced in 2023, aims to improve household incomes by providing Ugandans with resources to start or expand small businesses.
Through the initiative, beneficiaries receive items such as chickens, goats, welding machines and salon equipment to help them earn a living and become financially independent.