TeamUp launches construction of a maize mill for youths in Kassanda District
This is one of the numerous initiatives being implemented under the TeamUp program and spearheaded by HRNS to improve the health and socio-economic welfare of young people aged 15 to 30 years.
HRNS contracted Tonnet Agro Engineering Limited to construct the facility that will create business opportunities for youth to add value to their maize and carry out business on maize aggregation on a piece of land donated by Mr. Kitayimbwa Willy, a resident, at Kyoga in Kamuli subcounty, Kassanda District, Central Uganda. The facility will include a building structure with a store, an office and arrays of machines for sorting maize grain, grinding, packaging and labelling the final product for human consumption.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Youth Facilitator for Kyoga Parish, Mr. Muguluma Dickson, said 720 youths organised in 24 groups of 30 each are set to benefit from the facility through supplying maize grain and engaging in other activities along the value chain.
Ms Rhoda Kulabako, the Program Manager for HRNS said TeamUP will train beneficiaries to sustainably manage the facility under the oversight of the district local government.
Mr. John Bosco Ssewankambo, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Kassanda District committed to ensure that the highest standards are met during the execution of the project and it is accomplished in time.
The groundbreaking was done by Mr. Felix Opio, HRNS Country Manager, Ms. Monica Basemera, Head of TeamUp Program Coordination Units Mr. Ssewankambo in the presence of several sub-county and youth leaders.
Since July 2022, TeamUP has been working with youths in ten subcounties in Mityana district and two sub-counties in Kassanda district to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services, income generating opportunities and reliable safe water supply for 50,000 young people aged 15-30 years. The overall goal is to see young women and men in rural Uganda – particularly in Mityana and Kassanda districts – have a higher quality of life, and regional and national actors are actively promoting cross-sector collaboration across Uganda.
The TeamUP program is supported by three foundations in Germany, namely the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), the Hanns R. Neumann Foundation (HRNS), and the Siemens Foundation.