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TEDA Launches Youth Enterprise Support Fund at the 2026 Teso Youth Forum to Combat Regional Youth Unemployment
Soroti City, Uganda | July 18, 2026 – The Teso Elites Development Association (TEDA) successfully hosted its flagship Teso Youth Forum 2026, bringing together regional leaders, cultural institutions, government officials, development partners, entrepreneurs, and young innovators to address the pressing challenge of youth unemployment and economic exclusion across the Teso and Bukedi sub-regions.
Held under the theme “Harnessing Youth Potential for Sustainable Development in Teso and Bukedi Sub-Region,” the forum marked a significant shift from dialogue and capacity building toward practical, action-oriented interventions aimed at empowering young people with sustainable economic opportunities.
Addressing the Youth Employment Crisis
In his keynote address, Fraide Solomon, Founder and Lead of TEDA, presented data highlighting the severity of youth unemployment in Eastern Uganda. Drawing from Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) findings, he noted that while the national youth unemployment rate stands at approximately 17%, the Bukedi Sub-Region records the highest rate in the country at 41%. Additionally, labour underutilization which includes both underemployment and discouraged job seekers—stands at 54.5% in Bukedi and 36.2% in Teso
Our research shows that lack of skills is often only the visible symptom. The real systemic challenge preventing many young innovators from succeeding is limited access to startup capital. We cannot expect innovation to flourish when young people lack the resources to begin,”Solomon remarked.
Launch of the TEDA Youth Enterprise Support Fund
A major milestone of the forum was the official launch of the TEDA Youth Enterprise Support Fund, an initiative designed to provide practical support to promising youth-led enterprises.
The pilot phase seeks to mobilize USD 1,500, which will finance 10 youth-owned businesses with USD 150 asset-based seed grants. Rather than providing direct cash transfers, the initiative will supply productive business assets such as equipment, tools, raw materials, packaging supplies, and other essential startup inputs.
Priority sectors include:
Agro-processing
Value addition
Poultry farming
Tailoring and garment production
Digital services
Waste recycling and environmental enterprises
To promote sustainability and accountability, every supported enterprise will participate in a structured mentorship program accompanied by financial tracking, business coaching, budget monitoring, and regular performance reporting.
Inspiring Leadership and Practical Insights
The forum featured distinguished speakers who shared practical experiences and strategies for youth empowerment.
Alupo Mercy encouraged young people to transform knowledge into enterprise, cautioning against regional brain drain and emphasizing collaboration as a pathway to local economic development.
The Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Soroti City, Omoding Stephen , underscored the importance of patriotism, cultural identity, and responsible leadership, noting that the future transformation of the Teso Sub-Region depends largely on its young people.
Hon. Shabanshared practical lessons from managing multiple businesses simultaneously, emphasizing that consistent saving is a discipline essential for business growth.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM)-Iteso Cultural Union, challenged young people to embrace humility, effective time management, and hard work, illustrating his message with personal experiences that demonstrated how determination and dignity in labour create lasting success.
Call for Mindset Change
Delivering the closing remarks as the Guest of Honor (representer to Hon Echodu Calvin), His Worship Enomu John, Mayor of Soroti City, encouraged young people to take advantage of existing government opportunities while recognizing that personal mindset transformation remains the foundation of economic success.
He urged youth to diversify into profitable commercial agriculture, including poultry and sheep farming, and reminded participants to safeguard their health by protecting themselves against preventable diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Looking Ahead
TEDA announced that future editions of the Teso Youth Forum will expand into the Bukedi Sub-Region and Kampala to strengthen regional collaboration, engage policymakers more directly, and present evidence from the initial enterprises supported under the Youth Enterprise Support Fund.
Performance data from the pilot businesses will be used to attract larger investments and partnerships capable of scaling youth entrepreneurship across Eastern Uganda.
Partnership and Support
TEDA calls upon development partners, corporate organizations, financial institutions, local governments, civil society organizations, philanthropic foundations, and members of the diaspora to join the TEDA Youth Enterprise Support Fund
Support may be provided through financial contributions, business mentorship, technical expertise, equipment donations, or strategic partnerships aimed at creating sustainable opportunities for young entrepreneurs.