Stories
May 5, 2025 • 4 min read
In Northern Uganda’s Lira District, the Bed Igen Group began as a small youth savings group with a shared vision for economic empowerment through agriculture. With support from GOAL’s Markets for Youth program and key partnerships, they gained vital business, farming, and financial literacy skills. Today, members are running successful agricultural ventures, securing financial independence, and transforming their futures, proving that young people can drive lasting economic change.
A Vision for the Future
In the Lira District in Northern Uganda, the Bed Igen Group was formed in 2021 as a youth savings group with the ambition of pooling resources to improve their agricultural opportunities. Initially founded with only 17 members, the Bed Igen Youth Group has since grown to 47 as young people in Uganda strive to boost their economic potential and empowerment. When the group first formed, they lacked a clear strategy but shared a vision of what they hoped to achieve. Despite the lack of a defined plan, the group was driven by the belief that saving and investing were key to progress, particularly in the agricultural sector.
“When we started, we had nothing but hope that the group would help us to develop through agriculture. Unfortunately, we did not know how to start. So, we resorted to saving without a specific goal or clear direction,” said Okwir Robin Ricky, chairperson of the group.
Growth Through Partnership
Under the Markets for Youth Programme, GOAL Uganda identified Bed Igen Group in 2022. GOAL is implementing the Markets for Youth Program in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The program is implemented through the civil society organisations and private sector including financial institutions, input and output market actors, business development service providers and formal and informal training providers.
GOAL linked Bed Ingen Group to Wezesha impact- a civil society organisation focused on improving employment outcomes for Africa’s youth. Wezesha Impact trained the group in group dynamics, safeguarding, and business management. To further enhance the group’s farming skills, GOAL connected the group to input organisations like Agrifarm, 49ers and BRAC seed who provided them with quality seed, chemicals and fertiliser. The organisations also empowered the group with good agronomic practices including line planting, post-harvest handling, and the safe use of agricultural chemicals. Additionally, Shalom Ventures a mechanisation company offered hands-on training in mechanics and tractor operation, boosting the group’s productivity. Hive Colab, a business development company guided the members through starting and registering a business. At the same time, financial literacy training provided by Equity and Centenary banks paved the way for access to affordable loans, further supporting their entrepreneurial growth.
Reaping the Rewards of Hard Work
Today, the individual members of the group have invested in various ventures and are reaping the rewards of their thriving businesses. Ricky, the group’s chairperson, shares her success, “After the training, I ventured into maize, soya, rice, and piggery. These businesses have transformed my life. Now, I can comfortably provide for my family.”
Awor Dorcus, the general secretary of Bed Igen Group, also attests to the life-changing impact of the initiative: “Before joining the group, life was incredibly difficult. I was a young mother of three children with no means to support them. Through the group, I’ve learned how to grow and sell rice, soya, cassava, and maize. Money is no longer a problem for me. I can pay my children’s school fees, provide decent meals for my family, and afford healthcare.” She adds with ambition, “My goal is to become the leading supplier of maize flour in Lira City and beyond.”
Salome Auma, another member of Bed Igen Group, deals in maize, beans, groundnuts, rice, cows, goats, and hens, earning a monthly profit of about UGX 1,500,000 (approximately €375.00). “I never imagined I could make this much money as a woman. The trainings empowered me and gave me the confidence to venture into business,” Salome explains.
The group’s annual savings have seen remarkable growth, increasing from an average of UGX 700,000 (approximately €175.00) to an impressive UGX 12,000,000 (approximately €3,000.00). As the group continues to strive toward their mission and vision, their impact is already evident. The name Bed Igen is widely recognised, with members actively promoting the benefits of agriculture to their community. Young people in Bar Sub-county, who once viewed agriculture as unprofitable, are now seeing it as a sustainable and progressive business.
About Markets for Youth
In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, GOAL is promoting youth financial security in Uganda via the Markets for Youth programme. To date, the program has supported over 300,000 young women and men to access dignified and fulfilling work.
The programme works through private sector actors, including financial institutions like banks, input and output market actors, ICT solution providers, business development service providers, and formal and informal training providers and government institutions, to achieve the following outcomes:
- Improved access and utilisation of financial services and products.
- Improve access and utilisation of skills training information.
- Improve access and utilisation of inputs and output markets.
- Amplify youth voices and engagement.
Learn more about the Markets for Youth programme
