In the heart of Adea Parish, Morulem Sub-county, Abim District, a group of young men and women is rewriting their future. St. Daniel Comboni Youth Group, a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), has transformed from a struggling youth initiative into a thriving community enterprise through investment, skills development, and the subsidy program supported by World Food Programme (WFP) and implemented by Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA). Established in 2022 with just 16 members (9 female and 7 male), the group initially engaged in small savings and communal projects. By 2024, its membership had doubled to 32 (20 female and 12 male), and the group managed to save USD 3019.43. Their growing financial capacity opened doors to Parish Development Model (PDM) financing. However, due to limited financial literacy and poor investment decisions, their first project, a brick-making venture failed, leaving the group disillusioned and financially strained.

In 2025, a turning point came when SAA, with funding from WFP, identified St. Daniel Comboni Youth Group for targeted entrepreneurship and financial management training. Through these sessions, the group was sensitized to different investment opportunities under the subsidy scheme. Initially, they aspired to acquire a tractor but could not meet the 33% co-funding requirement. They then made a strategic decision to opt for a milling machine that required a more manageable co-investment of USD 1079. Their decision was driven by a clear market gap: Adea Trading Centre lacked modern milling services, forcing community members to travel long distances. With SAA’s technical support, the group developed a business memo and budget and mobilized both cash and in-kind contributions to construct a milling facility. The milling machine was delivered and installed by Munyengera Company on 31st August 2025, and youth from the group were trained in its operation and maintenance.

Operations officially began on 1st September 2025, and the results were immediate. Community demand was overwhelming, within a single week, the group generated USD 206, with USD 82.35 spent on operational costs such as fuel and maintenance. By the end of September, total revenue had reached USD1,134.48, while expenses stood at USD 247. To date, the group has milled 5.605 tons of flour including maize, cassava, sorghum, and millet after securing a milling contract to supply cassava flour to Moroto market. Their co-investment of USD 1079 was mobilized through USD 340.37 from group savings as a loan, USD 220 from Anenober Savings Group, USD 55 from Adea Bodaboda Association, and the balance in in-kind contributions such as sand, cement, and labor.

“From our humble beginnings, this milling machine has given us a fresh start. We’ve moved from losing money to creating income and jobs for our members,” shared Omugetum David, Chairperson of the Milling Committee. “Our ultimate dream is to buy a tractor to increase production and efficiency in our farming. This is just the beginning,” he added with a smile. St. Daniel Comboni Youth Group now plans to save its net income and offer loans to members, generating additional revenue through interest. They also plan to open a bank account to access loans, expand production of watermelon, maize, and cassava, start produce bulking, scale up milling, and introduce product branding for value addition.

This transformation demonstrates how youth can drive rural economic growth when given the right tools, training, and opportunities. Through the partnership between WFP and SAA, the group has not only enhanced its financial capacity but also created employment for young people, improved local service access, and strengthened food security in the community. With clear ambitions and proven capacity, St. Daniel Comboni Youth Group is on a path to becoming a model of youth-led agribusiness transformation in northern Uganda.

One of the youth employed by the St. Daniel Comboni milling business, showing off produce.