UGANDA, Wakiso | Real Muloodi News | Tycoon Patrick Bitature, founder, chairman, and Group CEO of the Simba Group of Companies, has encouraged young people to take advantage of their youth to become productive, emphasising the value of time in achieving their goals.
Patrick Bitature was speaking at the Gudie Leisure Farm’s South Western Uganda Business Symposium held in Najeera II, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District.
The two-day symposium aimed to generate support for young entrepreneurs in the region and promote investment opportunities.
Gudie Leisure Farm (GLF), a social enterprise, provided enlightenment on various agribusiness development services for youth-owned micro and small enterprises in the agricultural sector.
The symposium focused on promoting investment opportunities in South Western Uganda, which has immense potential in various sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
Prof. Gudula Naiga Basaza, founder and Managing Director of GLF, pointed out that the region has many opportunities in all sectors, especially in agriculture and tourism.
From Patrick Bitature’s speech, some of the takeaways for the youth to make the most out of every opportunity are:
Exploit Your Potential When Young
Bitature pointed out that age is a significant advantage young people have over older people, which they should harness for productivity.
He advised them to make good use of their time to achieve their goals and have a purpose, set a roadmap for their dreams, and exploit their potential for wealth creation.
“If you want to be extremely rich, you have to work extremely hard. Anyone can become very rich, but it’s up to you to exploit that potential or not,” Patrick Bitature said.
Research, Choose the Best Business
Bitature also advised young people to choose businesses they have researched well, as any small business can work in Uganda, with so much potential and a big enough market.
“If you don’t do your research, don’t waste time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gudula, said that South Western Uganda is endowed with beauty and different attractions that promote tourism, while agriculture is crucial.
According to her, South Western Uganda has the raw materials and hardworking people but needs to add value to agricultural products.
Value addition, processing, and manufacturing are essential for agribusiness development, she added.
Matooke (bananas) production is massive in the region, but the skin is often discarded as waste.
Gudula said the matooke was being transported to Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono with the skin, which was a missed opportunity for adding value to the product.
The region needs more factories to process milk, considering that Kiruhura alone produces over 100,000 litres of milk.
South Western Uganda has abundant tourism opportunities, including being home to the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Mburo National Park, mountains, and waterfalls, among others.
The region is also a gateway to the East African region, with many border districts to Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and the DRC, presenting numerous business opportunities.
GLF has been incubating youth from 120 parishes in the region, who have gone back to their communities and started incubating other youth, positioning themselves along the Farm’s value chain in 25 different cottages.
Gudula noted that each cottage industry had an opportunity to bring together 100 youth working on one particular cottage industry, presenting a chance for the business community to partner with organised and trained young people to advance their interests.
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