FEATURE NEWS ARTICLE : Deep in Eastern Uganda, Namayingo District, access to finance for young people engaged in agriculture has long been a distant dream rather than a lived reality. With limited collateral, restricted lending options, and few youth-responsive financial products, one question continues to linger: How can young people in agriculture grow their enterprises, scale production, and build dignified livelihoods?
ASIGMA, in partnership with Heifer International and consortium partners FSDU, FSME, and CURAD, has been actively bridging this gap by strengthening youth-focused finance across priority agribusiness value chains.
Through the SAYE Credit Fund design, ASIGMA has been instrumental in unlocking access to tailored, affordable finance for young people, working closely with SACCOs to innovate loan products, strengthen governance systems, and build sustainable youth-responsive financial ecosystems. This systemic approach ensures that credit reaches those who need it most, while laying the groundwork for long-term inclusion.
The story of Nyadoi Harriet, a resilient young mother of six striving to turn agriculture into a reliable source of income for her family, and Emmanuel Osemeki, a young father working tirelessly to provide for his household through agribusiness, stands as powerful testament to the change the SAYE Credit Fund is making possible through the SACCO financing pathway.
So far, ASIGMA has funded 5 SACCOs and onboarded 9 SACCOs, who have now jointly supported over 700 young people, through which youth-focused financing has been disbursed. This number continues to grow at an exponential rate as SACCO onboarding and ecosystem strengthening efforts expand.
Building Pathways to Prosperity: Nyadoi Harriet’s Impact Story on Groundnut Production
For Nyadoi Hariet, a member of the Habala Bayere Bahula Youth Association (loosely translated as The Youth Levelling Up), access to financing has opened an opportunity to expand her groundnut production business. Hariet grows groundnuts for commercial purposes, but this wasn’t the case before the SAYE Program and the credit fund.
Harriet’s experience illustrates how access to capital transforms women from subsistence farmers into commercial producers. The loan enabled her to enter groundnut production, which is traditionally capital-intensive and male dominated.
She received a UGX 500,000 loan in February 2026, which she used to prepare land for the upcoming agricultural season. The financing allowed her to hire two acres of land, pay for ploughing and use seed saved from the previous farming season.
“Before joining the SAYE program, lack of capital limited me to small-scale farming. Managing a larger farm also requires labor and resources I could not afford. As a young woman, it is especially hard to mobilize these resources without financial backing.” – Harriet explained
Her decision to seek financing was influenced by the training she received through the SAYE program, which included financial literacy, recordkeeping, loan application processes and ongoing guidance on how to invest and manage loan funds effectively.
She now encourages youth, especially the young women to take advantage of opportunities like SAYE. Being part of a SACCO makes it easier to access loans and improve your livelihood, however, as individuals, it is very difficult to get financial support. This is because in a group, you are trusted, guided, and held accountable.
In her youth association comprised of 25 young people, 10 people have so far received funding and 8 of those are young women. This further highlights the core objective of the SAYE program to reach more young women.
“My main goal is to improve my household livelihood. I want to build a better home with my husband and ensure our children remain in school. I have six children, and five of them are currently in school. Paying school fees is a top priority for me.” – Harriet Nyadoi
Harriet noted that the partnership between SAYE and NAGRO SACCO helped make financing more accessible for youth in her community, especially for the women in her group.
Expanding Production and Building Assets: Osemeki Emmanuel’s Story
For Osemeki Emmanuel, another member of the Habala Bayere Bahula Youth Association, the loan has supported the expansion of his farming activities.
Emmanuel received UGX 500,000 in February 2026, which he invested in renting 1.5 acres of land and paying for ploughing. He currently grows soybeans and groundnuts, building on earlier support he received through the SAYE programme in the form of soybean seed during the previous season.
Before joining the program, Emmanuel lacked both capital and financial management skills. Farming was largely survival-oriented, with no clear planning or investment strategy. Through SAYE training and access to credit, Emmanuel reports a mindset shift and now treats farming as a dignified business.
“The training helped us change our mindset. We learned how to plan, how to invest, and how to grow gradually, and I saw an opportunity to improve my household income, ” Emmanuel explained. “After receiving the first support through the SAYE Credit Fund to invest in the soybean seed, I realised I could expand my farming even further”
With access to financing, he has been able to expand his production. He has planted 1.5 acres of soybeans using seed from the previous season and is preparing an additional acre for groundnuts.
Agriculture has already begun to translate into tangible economic progress for Emmanuel. Using income from the sale of soybeans and maize, he recently invested in a motorcycle valued at UGX 8 million, paying UGX 3 million in cash and financing the remainder through a loan.
“My family depends on farming, and this program has helped me better support them. This loan has been instrumental in improving my livelihood and given me a hope for the future. Youth should not remain idle in the towns and streets, these programs provide opportunities to access capital and gain knowledge” – Emmanuel Osemeke
Emmanuel is a strong ambassador for the SAYE Program and now encourages other young people to join it and participate in SACCOs and Youth Associations. He emphasizes that farming can be profitable and dignified if approached with knowledge and discipline. He expresses gratitude to SAYE Program and implementing partners for providing both skills and financial access, which have restored hope for the future.
From Two Stories to Thousands: Scaling Youth Inclusion through the SAYE Credit Fund
This is the story shared by two champions who have transitioned from uncertainty and exclusion to dignity and opportunity. This is made possible through access to finance from the SAYE Credit Fund, designed by ASIGMA in partnership with Heifer International.
Yet, many young people remain excluded from formal financial systems, constrained by limited collateral, unsuitable products, and weak linkages to youth-responsive institutions. The SAYE Programme is changing this reality by scaling inclusive finance through SACCO partnerships, strengthening institutional systems, and expanding youth-tailored credit across agribusiness value chains.
As more SACCOs are onboarded and ecosystems mature, the SAYE Programme is positioned to reach thousands more young people, unlocking livelihoods, restoring dignity, and accelerating progress toward decent and dignified employment for youth at scale.
