Stories
October 8, 2025 • 2 min read
In Bipongo village of the Kitgum district in North Uganda, Yoweri Ojwang has benefited from the formation of the Future Masters Youth Group, which was set up as a response to the limited income opportunities in the area. Yoweri is a male youth champion for the group, which is supported by GOAL Uganda’s Markets for Youth programme in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. Benefitting from the programme's financial literacy training, Yoweri Ojwang has scaled his personal growth and created opportunities to build his own future.
In Bipongo, life has long been defined by subsistence farming, limited income opportunities, and high youth unemployment. These challenges have driven many to migrate to urban centres. However, the Future Masters Youth Group now stands as a beacon of hope for the young people of Bipongo.
Yoweri recalls the humble beginnings of Future Masters, which started as a small savings group and has since grown to 30 members: 23 women and seven men.
“We began as 10 dedicated youths from the church,” Yoweri shares. “Initially, our goal was simply to save money and support each other.”
The early days were tough. The Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) lacked sustainable structures, causing some members to drop out. Others struggled to save 2,000 UGX (approx. €0.48) per week.
Growth Through Partnership
In 2023, things took a positive turn when GOAL Uganda connected the group with civil society organizations and private sector partners, including Multi-Community Based Development Initiative (MUCOBADI), 49ers, Mabeere Group of Companies, Nile Forestry, and Centenary Bank.
“They profiled us and introduced us to structured savings and skills training,” Yoweri explains. “That’s when we really started to grow.”
Through training in financial literacy, group dynamics, business management, and good agronomic practices, the group gained clarity and momentum. These partnerships empowered them to conduct community conversations, identifying and addressing local challenges through dialogue.
With the support of local government leadership, these community conversations have led to a decrease in financial insecurity and fewer young girls dropping out of school. With assistance from GOAL’s Markets for Youth programme, Future Masters members began investing in planting soybeans, maize, and vegetables, using improved seeds, effective agrochemicals, and techniques like spacing, line planting, and post-harvest handling.
Group chairperson Nyeko Dennis has witnessed significant positive changes in Bigongo Village since his childhood.
“Where I grew up, we didn’t farm. But after joining the group and seeing the results, I planted soybeans myself,” says Nyeko. “From just 5kg of seeds, I harvested 72kg. The next season, I doubled the yields.”
Meanwhile, Anek Jackline, a 35-year-old group member and mother from Bipongo Village, invested her Parish Development Model (PDM) loan into pig farming. “I used UGX 1,000,000 (approx. €240) to start a piggery, and it has changed my life,” she testifies.
“Most of us feared money,” Yoweri admits. “Interacting with Centenary Bank has boosted our confidence, and we are processing a group loan of UGX 700,000 (approx. €168).”
Looking Forward
The Future Masters are sowing more than seeds; they are cultivating systems, skills, and ambition. Their next steps include launching a group vegetable project, starting with a newly established nursery bed, purchasing irrigation equipment, and strengthening their financial system through diligent saving. In a region where youth unemployment is high and resources are scarce, the Future Masters Youth Group stands as a testament to the transformative power of empowering knowledge.
