Young people in Nyagatare District are calling on banks and other financial institutions to better understand their businesses and provide loans based on the actual amount required by each project, rather than providing similar amounts to businesses of different sizes.
The call was made on September 17, 2026, during the national celebration of World Population Day held in Nyagatare District, bringing together government officials, young people and various development partners.
During the event, young entrepreneurs showcased their businesses and projects, explaining that they are willing to work and create jobs but that access to adequate capital remains a major challenge for many who want to expand their businesses.
Youth Want Loans Based on Business Needs
Some young people said banks should improve the way they assess loan applications by paying greater attention to the nature and needs of individual businesses.
They explained that businesses are not the same and therefore do not require the same amount of capital. They want banks to assess each project based on the amount of money it requires, its potential to generate income and the applicant’s ability to repay the loan.
One of the young participants, Cyiza Said, said: “We want banks to listen to us and look at the project we have and the amount of money it requires. Not all businesses are the same, so they should not all receive the same amount of money. When a project requires a large amount of capital but receives only a small amount, it becomes difficult to implement it as planned.”
The youth said that when they receive insufficient capital, they sometimes have to look for additional funding elsewhere, forcing them to operate on a smaller scale or delaying the achievement of their business goals.
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Young Entrepreneurs Highlight Capital Challenges
Muberuka Amon, the Managing Director of Icyizere Organic Farm Technology, based in Tabagwe Sector, is among the young entrepreneurs running a project related to agriculture and technology in fertilizer production.
The project produces fertilizer using small organisms, as part of efforts to develop fertilizer production methods that can support farmers and contribute to environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Muberuka says young people have many ideas that could create jobs and generate income, but access to sufficient capital remains a major challenge.
He said: “We have businesses and we have the willingness to work, but sometimes capital is the problem. When you go to a bank with a large project and receive an amount that is much smaller than what you need, it becomes difficult for the project to reach the level you want.”
Muberuka calls on banks to assess each project individually instead of applying similar loan amounts to businesses with different needs. “What we are asking is that banks should look at the project and determine what it needs to operate properly. The amount provided should then correspond to the size of the project. This would help us expand our businesses and create jobs for others.”
He explains that a project such as his requires equipment, working space, raw materials and the capacity to take the finished product to the market.
According to the young entrepreneur, access to adequate capital would enable youth businesses to move beyond the idea stage and become stronger enterprises capable of generating income and employment.
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Artists Also Seek Access to Capital
Irakoze Diane, an artist based in Nyagatare City, also highlighted the importance of supporting young people with different talents so that they can turn their skills into sustainable businesses and sources of income.
Diane says art is not only an activity for entertainment but can also become a profession that supports artists and creates employment opportunities for others.
She said: “Art is a talent, but when you want to turn it into a business that generates income, you need equipment, a place to work and the ability to produce more artwork. Without these things, it becomes difficult to expand what you do.”
She added that young people involved in creative industries should be considered alongside other entrepreneurs because their businesses can also create jobs and contribute to the economy. “We want young people involved in art to also have opportunities to access capital. Not every business is a conventional commercial activity. Some artistic businesses can have a large market when the person running them has the resources to develop them.”
Diane believes that supporting young artists can help nurture young talent while also enabling them to become economically independent.
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Youth Encouraged to Use Available Opportunities
The event was also attended by Parfait Ishungure, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Arts Development, who spoke about the role of young people in national development.
He encouraged young people to make use of the opportunities available to them, participate in development activities and create employment through entrepreneurship.
He said: “Young people are the strength of the country. What matters is having ideas, putting them into practice and making use of the available opportunities so that those ideas become concrete actions.”
Ishungure also emphasized the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and capacity needed to create jobs and contribute to national development.
He said: “When young people have knowledge, talent and business ideas, we must look at how all of these can be turned into productive opportunities. Young people themselves must also participate in finding solutions to the challenges they face and make use of the opportunities available to them.”
Youth Need Capital and Proper Preparation
Although young people are calling on banks to make it easier for entrepreneurs to access loans, they also acknowledge that applicants must be prepared and have clear business plans.
They say anyone seeking a loan should have a clear business proposal, know how much money is required, understand the market for their products and demonstrate how they will repay the loan.
Muberuka says these elements also give financial institutions enough information to properly assess a project. “We are not asking for money to be given to someone simply because they are young. We are asking banks to understand and properly assess the business and then provide sufficient financing based on its needs.”
Diane also says young people must demonstrate that they can make good use of the opportunities they receive. “We also have to work hard, have a plan and demonstrate that we can use the money we receive properly. But when your business requires a certain amount of money and you receive much less, it affects the way you operate.”
Young people in Nyagatare say access to sufficient capital could help their businesses grow, create jobs and contribute more significantly to the development of the district.
They point out that young entrepreneurs are engaged in agriculture, livestock farming, trade, technology, arts and other sectors, but some struggle to expand because they cannot access enough financing.
