Young people in Nyagatare District are celebrating the achievements they have made in various development initiatives over the past five years, from 2021 to 2026. However, they acknowledge that the journey is still ongoing and that more efforts are needed to sustain and accelerate youth development.
This was highlighted on October 30, 2026, during an event held in Nyagatare District to celebrate the achievements made by young people over the past five years.
The event was held under the theme: “Reviewing Youth Achievements and Shaping the Bright Future We Aspire to Build.”
The Coordinator of the National Youth Council in Nyagatare District, Katurebe Moses, said that young people were proud of their achievements in social welfare, economic development and governance. However, he noted that those who would take up leadership responsibilities in the next term would have the responsibility of building on the progress already made to further advance youth development.
He said: “Over the past five years, we have achieved a lot as young people. We had 30 performance targets, all of which were accomplished.
During this period, we established more than 35 youth cooperatives, while 21,819 young people joined various groups. A total of 661 young people applied to participate in the YouthConnekt competitions, and 286 youth were involved in small-scale businesses.”
In addition, young people have undertaken various initiatives aimed at improving their livelihoods. More than 101,000 young people have enrolled in the Ejo Heza long-term savings scheme, while 178,213 fruit trees have been planted through their participation. A total of 22,566 young people have created their own jobs, while 80,540 have engaged in savings activities.
Furthermore, young people have established 54,031 kitchen gardens, carried out 922 special community work activities (Umuganda), and 48,170 young people in Nyagatare are reported to be using social media responsibly.
Some young people who spoke to #MUHAZIYACU said they were proud of the progress made so far. They emphasized that the development journey was still ongoing and that they remained committed to initiatives aimed at improving their livelihoods.
Turimumahoro Celestin, a young man from Katabagemu Sector who produces dairy cattle feed, said: “As young people, we have made progress and carried out many activities aimed at improving our lives and contributing to national development. However, this does not mean we should stop here. Instead, we should continue investing our efforts in initiatives that promote our development as young people.”
Safari Francis, the chairperson of Nyagatare Volunteer Servers Development Cooperative, which engages in activities including beekeeping, agriculture, improved cooking stoves and animal feed production, among others, said: “Over the past five years, we have achieved a lot as young people. However, this is only the beginning of our continued development. We receive support as young people, and therefore, we should make good use of the opportunities provided by our government and work harder to improve our livelihoods.”
The Deputy Mayor of Nyagatare District in charge of Economic Development, Matsiko Gonzague, also reminded young people that they represent the nation’s future strength. He urged them to uphold positive values and continue engaging in activities that promote both their personal development and the overall development of the country.
He said: “We appreciate your contribution to the development of our district. We encourage you to build on the progress you have already made and continue improving your livelihoods. Maintain good values, avoid anything that could negatively affect your lives, and keep engaging in productive activities while making proper use of the opportunities provided to you.”
Nyagatare District is home to approximately 177,981 young people, including 87,827 males and 90,154 females.
More than 53,000 young people in the district are engaged in agriculture and livestock farming.
Regarding the implementation of youth development activities in Nyagatare District, achievements in the economic sector stand at 95%, social welfare at 99.9%, governance at 98%, and other youth-related services at 97%.
