Other than finance, knowledge is important when it comes to conducting entrepreneurial activities. Most youth lack information about business management, such as quality assurance, customer care, customer laws, and competence to read, write, and conduct smooth transactions (Ahaibwe et al. 2013:23).There are limited business networks that support youth to learn, access market for their products, and obtain quality raw materials (Cramer and Richards 2011:291; Ayai 2013:6). The violence in sub-Saharan Africa truncated market systems and infrastructure that would have provided valuable information. Thus, there are no proper linkages in value chains, limiting access to inputs, supplies, and free flow of outputs. Additionally, social differences such as ethnicity, language, caste, and education pose an entry barrier to business networks (Fafchamps 2004:118). Furthermore, weak enforced market institutions segment business opportunities for entrepreneurship success (Wood and Frynas 2006:260). Consequently, youth develop fear of failure and negative attitudes to start businesses (Namatovu et al. 2016:110; Dixon 2021:34). These factors inhibited the flourishing of personal resources in youth entrepreneurial orientations.
The aspect of rural-urban migration drains productive labour that could be applied in agriculture. Youth prefer to migrate to urban settings for better social amenities such as entertainment, electricity, employment, business opportunities, health, and education (Olanya 2019:149). While many agricultural promotion strategies have been implemented in Uganda, no special attention is given to youth in agriculture. The Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) was meant to foster post-conflict productivity and economic revitalisation, but self-employment did not attract youth engagement in agriculture in northern Uganda (ibid). In Kenya, youth unemployment stood at 64 per cent, yet 80 per cent of all employment opportunities were in agriculture (Gichimu and Njeru 2014:2). As in Uganda, youth find agriculture unattractive, preferring to move to towns and cities for better standards of living. Even the few youths who have access to land as a resource lack necessary motivation for investment. Thus, the existence of resources may not facilitate youth productivity if youth do not recognise themselves as a resource. The Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework emphasises character, cohesion, compassion, and care plus contribution as important for success (Lerner, Fisher, & Weinberg 2000:15). This study focuses on how funds, land, and youth themselves contribute to youth entrepreneurship. This demands a methodology investigating insights from the key players—the youth.
Methodology
The empirical findings were obtained from a study conducted in Gulu district, northern Uganda, from June 2019 to August 2021. Gulu district is one of eight districts in the Acholi subregion. As elsewhere in Uganda, the population in Gulu is dominated by young people with 25.2% aged 18-30 years (UBOS 2017:151). The study employed exploratory and case study approaches to youth beneficiaries from a government-oriented entrepreneurship programme: the Youth Livelihood Programme. Youth Interest Groups (YIGs) under this programme comprised members aged 18-30 years, corresponding to the definition of youth utilised by Uganda National Youth Council (MoGLSD 2013:3).