YECODE Uganda

YECODE Uganda (Youth Empowerment and Community Development) is a registered umbrella organization established to champion youth empowerment, skills development, and community transformation across Uganda and the East African region. The organization was founded on the belief that sustainable national development can only be achieved when young people are empowered with the right skills, knowledge, and opportunities to actively participate in the socio-economic growth of their communities.

Recognizing the increasing challenges of unemployment, underemployment, and limited access to practical education among youth, YECODE Uganda was formed to bridge the gap between formal education and the world of work. The organization adopts an integrated approach that combines education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and community engagement to build a generation of self-reliant and socially responsible citizens.

Formed by a team of professionals with extensive experience in education, business development, tourism, media, and agribusiness, YECODE Uganda serves as a collaborative platform for organizations and institutions that share a common vision of transforming communities through youth-focused programs. Its founding members are motivated by a shared commitment to fostering creativity, promoting enterprise, and nurturing leadership among young people.

Vision

To be a leading platform for youth empowerment and community transformation through education, innovation, and sustainable enterprise development.

Mission

To empower young people with relevant skills, resources, and opportunities that enable them to become productive citizens and change-makers within their communities.

Core Objectives

Promote vocational and entrepreneurial skills training among youth and women.
Foster innovation, creativity, and self-reliance through sustainable business initiatives.
Strengthen partnerships with educational institutions, government agencies, and the private sector for community development.
Promote youth participation in tourism, agribusiness, and digital entrepreneurship.
Support community-based projects aimed at poverty reduction, education, and environmental conservation.

YECODE Uganda operates as an umbrella body bringing together several institutions and enterprises, namely Rwizongo Safari Africa, East Africa College of Commerce, Banarian Investment Ltd, Balaba Coffee, Balaba Café, and Naboth Publications. Each of these member entities contributes a unique component to YECODE’s holistic development model:

Rwizongo Safari Africa – Eco-Tourism

Rwizongo Safari Africa promotes eco-tourism and conservation education, creating opportunities for youth in the hospitality and travel industries.

East Africa College of Commerce – Vocational Training

East Africa College of Commerce provides technical and vocational education, equipping learners with practical skills aligned with industry demands.

Banarian Investment Ltd – Incubation

Banarian Investment Ltd focuses on business incubation, financial literacy, and enterprise support for start-ups.

Balaba Coffee & Café – Agribusiness

Balaba Coffee and Balaba Café serve as models for agribusiness value chain development, showcasing how agricultural production can be transformed into profitable enterprises.

Naboth Publications – Publications

Naboth Publications supports information dissemination, research, and documentation of community transformation success stories.

Through this broad partnership, YECODE Uganda integrates vocational training, enterprise development, tourism promotion, and agricultural value addition to empower youth with hands-on skills, business acumen, and innovative mindsets necessary for employment and entrepreneurship. The organization’s model emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, and capacity building, ensuring that young people not only gain technical expertise but also develop the confidence and leadership potential to create sustainable livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to national development.

YECODE Uganda continues to strengthen partnerships with government institutions, educational organizations, and private sector actors to scale up its programs and reach more beneficiaries across the country. In doing so, it seeks to create a lasting impact by transforming Uganda’s youthful population into a productive, innovative, and economically empowered generation.

Organization	Core Role	Main Functions / Roles
Rwizongo Safari Africa	Promotes eco-tourism and conservation education while creating opportunities for youth in the hospitality and travel industries.	• Promotes eco-tourism, environmental awareness, and cultural heritage conservation. • Engages youth in tour guiding, hospitality management, and wildlife conservation. • Partners with conservation agencies and institutions to promote sustainable tourism. • Supports community-based tourism initiatives that generate income for youth. • Provides internships and training in tourism and hospitality. • Markets Uganda as a premier tourism destination.
East Africa College of Commerce (EACC) & Balaba Business Institute	Provides quality technical and vocational education to equip learners with employable skills for community and national development.	• Offers Short Courses, Certificate, and Diploma programs in various disciplines. • Implements Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET). • Equips learners with entrepreneurial and leadership skills. • Conducts community outreach and lifelong learning programs. • Facilitates industrial attachments and real-life projects. • Promotes inclusiveness and access for vulnerable youth and orphans.
Banarian Investment Ltd	Provides general supply services and enterprise support for education and community development programs.	• Supplies construction, electrical, carpentry, hairdressing, and hotel/catering materials for training and commercial use. • Provides food supplies to schools and community programs. • Engages in general merchandise, procurement, and logistics. • Supports entrepreneurship and business incubation for youth enterprises. • Distributes educational and industrial materials. • Offers procurement and supply chain support for YECODE institutions. • Promotes youth engagement in trade and enterprise development.
Balaba Coffee	Enhances agribusiness and value addition through coffee processing, packaging, and marketing.	• Processes and packs premium-quality coffee from Rubirizi Gardens. • Promotes agricultural value chain development from farm to cup. • Trains youth and women in coffee farming, processing, and marketing. • Encourages agripreneurship among young people. • Links local farmers to national and international markets. • Promotes sustainable and climate-smart agriculture.
Balaba Café	Promotes hospitality, culinary arts, and food service excellence while creating youth employment in the food industry.	• Produces and sells snacks, fast foods, and both local and international dishes. • Bakes breads, cakes, and pastries for sale and supply to schools and institutions. • Offers outside catering for corporate and community events. • Trains youth in cookery, bakery, and customer service. • Serves as a demonstration café for hospitality students. • Promotes nutrition education and healthy eating. • Creates jobs and enterprise opportunities for vulnerable youth and women.
Naboth Publications	Promotes education, research, and communication through publishing and information dissemination.	• Writes, edits, and publishes books, magazines, and manuals in Hotel, Tourism, Business, and General Knowledge. • Produces training materials and educational resources. • Documents and publishes community transformation success stories. • Promotes information sharing and advocacy through media and digital platforms. • Provides editorial, design, and publication services. • Trains youth in writing, journalism, and digital publishing. • Amplifies youth voices and promotes literacy.
YECODE Uganda (Umbrella Organization)	Coordinates and oversees all member institutions while implementing programs that promote youth empowerment, skills development, and community transformation.	• Supports orphans, vulnerable children, and disadvantaged youth through empowerment programs. • Advocates for equal access to education, employment, and entrepreneurship. • Raises a voice for the voiceless at community and national levels. • Mobilizes resources and partnerships for skills and community development. • Provides strategic leadership, coordination, and institutional strengthening. • Organizes training, mentorship, and outreach programs. • Monitors and evaluates impact across all partner institutions. • Promotes collaboration with government, civil society, and the private sector.

Skills Development & Vocational Training

In partnership with institutions like the East Africa College of Commerce, YECODE provides market-relevant training programs tailored to industry needs.

Enterprise and Innovation Promotion

Through Banarian Investment Ltd and Balaba Café, YECODE promotes youth-led enterprises and product innovation.

Tourism and Cultural Promotion

Working through Rwizongo Safari Africa, YECODE engages young people in eco-tourism, cultural heritage, and hospitality development.

Agribusiness Development

Balaba Coffee provides a platform for youth engagement in the coffee value chain, from production to processing and marketing.

Media and Publications

Naboth Publications disseminates educational materials, success stories, and awareness campaigns on youth and community development initiatives.