Safal Uganda Baati Foundation Empowers Youth with Skills, Savings and Self-Reliance

Safal Uganda Baati Foundation, the social development arm of Uganda Baati Limited, has stepped up its commitment to youth empowerment in Tororo through a combination of vocational training, financial literacy, and peer-to-peer support networks aimed at fostering self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

“Our mission goes beyond delivering exceptional building solutions,” said George Mubiru, Head of Safal Uganda Baati Foundation. “We are committed to sustainable community empowerment by investing in Uganda’s youth. Through intentional vocational and life skills development, we connect them to meaningful opportunities, shaping a brighter future for generations to come.”

The foundation’s ongoing initiatives in Tororo combine practical skills training with access to financial resources. Participants in trades such as hairdressing, roof installation, liquid soap production, backyard gardening, and construction have benefited from a modular skilling program designed to enhance employability. Recognising that skill acquisition alone was not enough, the foundation this year launched the Youth Saving Scheme, modelled on the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) system, to help young entrepreneurs access start-up capital.

“While our participants gained practical skills, many lacked the financial resources to establish their businesses,” Mubiru explained. “The Youth Saving Scheme bridges this gap by enabling them to mobilise savings and learn about financial literacy, business management, and the value of peer support.”

Through weekly savings meetings, participants pool resources to invest in micro-enterprises. The funds are used to purchase essential tools, promote services, and expand projects, transforming skills into sustainable income streams. Early results show improved economic stability and a culture of financial discipline among participants.

The program’s peer-to-peer model has also proven crucial, connecting graduates into lasting support networks. “This interconnectedness helps participants share expertise, access new markets, and innovate across sectors,” Mubiru noted. “A vegetable farmer can find a ready market through a hairdresser in the network, while learning business tips from other entrepreneurs.”

Safal Uganda Baati Foundation says its model demonstrates that meaningful change happens when youth are trusted with both resources and responsibility. The organisation is calling on the private sector to invest in youth-led social development, noting that such investment not only improves livelihoods but also fosters a healthier market environment for goods and services.

“By empowering young people to become the architects of progress, we’re building stronger communities and a better Uganda,” Mubiru said.

Uganda Baati Limited, founded in 1964 and a member of the Safal Group, is the country’s leading manufacturer and supplier of roofing sheets and building products, with branches in Tororo and Arua and 18 showrooms nationwide.