A group of 36 reformed youth gang members in Oyam Town Council, Oyam District, are celebrating a new lease on life after they were trained in agricultural enterprises.
They were later supported by the Woman Member of Parliament for Oyam District, Santa Alum, who provided them with chickens to help change their mindset.
The reformed group consists of youths aged between 19 and 35, including both boys and girls, many of whom were child mothers and jobless individuals who previously caused insecurity in the town. In January of this year, the youths reformed and received support from Hon. Santa Alum, who provided 300 chickens and six piglets.
Currently, the group is earning money from selling chickens, with 5.6 million shillings saved in their group account. Members are now borrowing money from the account to fund their individual businesses.
Akot Irine, one of the members, says that being trained in agricultural enterprises like poultry farming has helped her, especially as a child mother. In addition to practicing poultry farming within the group, she is also running her own poultry business, earning 200,000 shillings monthly.
Amoki Bonny, a patron for the Kampala Boys, says their members are now living happier lives after receiving training in mindset change and various agricultural skills. Some members are planting a variety of crops in addition to poultry farming as part of the group’s activities.
He added that those who borrowed money from the group are now engaged in economic activities like farming, and others have started street vending businesses, which has greatly changed their mindset and helped them stop disturbing the community.
