The Ugandan government through the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development has launched the ‘Ghetto Got Talent Search and Health Awareness’ campaign in former Presidential candidate Bobi Wine's popular Kampala ghetto territory.
The maiden edition of the talent search will be kick started in nine of the major ghettos in Kampala where the opposition National Unity Platform, NUP Party Principal is popularly known as the President mention the likes of Katanga, Makerere Kavule, Bwaise – Kimombosa, Kisenyi, Kamwokya, Kosovo, Namuwongo, and Kivulu among others before extending to various ghettos countrywide.
While briefing the press about the campaign at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday, Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi who is the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs has revealed how the government is looking at promoting musical talent, dance, art and design, comedy, poetry, magic, fashion, and acrobatics that advance values of cultural development and national pride.
According to Hon Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, the "Ghetto Got Talent Search and Health Awareness campaign.” was inspired by a needs assessment exercise in various slums of the country with the aim of identifying what the youth of the community see as their priorities, skills gaps, and capacity needs.
“One of our mandates as a ministry is to mobilize and empower communities to harness their potential while protecting the rights of vulnerable populations groups,” Mateke told the press at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday.
The minister has said that the ‘Ghetto Got Talent Search and Health awareness campaign’ which is slated to kickoff in November 2021 presents an opportunity for the Gender Ministry to explore a different framework for doing research that connects more explicitly with the ministry’s objective of supporting marginalized communities In becoming healthy actors of social change through their various skillset.
The government has formulated generally sound policies and programs, and designed appropriate initiatives to support youth employment to tackle the current plight of the majority of the youth.
“This campaign will give the upcoming talented Ghetto youth an opportunity to showcase and develop on a national platform,” Mateke added.
Minister said that they believe the camping will facilitate talent and skills development, health camps on reproductive health, advocacy on environmental issues, economic development, confidence building among others.
