Perceptions of youths on government venture capital fund (The accrued empowerment benefits)

Abstract

The study examined the effect of Centenary Bank Loan Management of the Government Youth Venture Capital fund on the economic empowerment of the youths in Uganda. The specific objectives were; (1) to examine the relationship between the bank loan portfolio and youth empowerment benefits; (2) to analyze the relationship between the bank’s existing management regulations and the economic empowerment benefits derived by the youths; and (3) to ascertain the relationship between Centenary Bank loans management and its ability to work out problem loans amongst the youths and economically empower them. Results revealed that; (1) there is a significant and positive relationship between bank loan portfolio and youth empowerment benefits [r = .664, p < 0.0001]; (2) there is a positive and significant relationship between Centenary Bank’s existing management regulations and the economic empowerment of youths [r = .712, p < 0.0001]; and (3) there is a positive and significant relationship between Centenary Bank loans management ability to work out problem loans and youth empowerment [r = .559, p < 0.0001]. It was therefore concluded that the Government of Uganda and the responsible ministries have the obligation to ensure that the Youth Venture Capital Fund is increased so that the youths can participate in development issues which strengthen the moral system and their behavior in the community. Similarly, the findings revealed that even though some youths have the required capital, they still need to be armed with a strong moral fibre that can enable them to discard the violence approach in society, gain entrepreneurial and the relevant life skills. This requires additional interventions some of which are academic and others religious such that ethics and morality are integrated into commerce.