The First Deputy Prime Minister and also the
Minister in charge of East African Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebbecca Alitwala Kadaga
has called upon the people in Busoga to embrace the presidential skilling hubs
that are aimed at solving the unemployment problem in Busoga and the entire
country.
She made the remarks at Busoga Zonal Presidential
Industrial hub located in Jinja while passing out 456 youths after skilling in
vocational skills.
“I want to thank His Excellency the President for
this life-changing initiative of skilling our youths who are now job creators.
I also thank the State House for steering these hubs so well to ensure that the
vision of the President is achieved,” Hon. Kadaga said.
The former speaker of Parliament who is also the
Woman Member of Parliament for Kamuli congratulated the graduates and pledged
her support together with that of fellow members of Parliament in Busoga to
support all proposals by the State House Comptroller and her team that were in
line to further the President’s skilling program.
“I congratulate all our graduates and thank you
for completing the course. Now that you are skilled, I don’t want to hear you
just playing cards in the villages. You need to be different by doing something
for income like some of your colleagues who have testified here,” Minister
Kadaga said.
The trainees from eleven districts that include;
Kamuli, Iganga, Bugiri, Mayuge, Jinja, Luuka, Bugweri, Buyende, Kaliro,
Namutumba and Namayingo completed their vocational training and were awarded
certificates in seven (7) disciplines namely; Bakery & Confectionery,
Tailoring and design, Hairdressing and make up, Building and Concrete Practice
and Carpentry & Joinery, Welding and Metal fabrications and Leather
processing (shoe making).
Minister Kadaga was happy to hear girls were
taking interest in male dominated courses like welding and metal fabrications,
building and construction and carpentry. This also applied to the male gender
who acquired skills in tailoring and design, bakery and confectionery and hair
dressing and make up which were predominantly for ladies.
“I call upon you to come together, form groups and
work together. If for example a tailor, a baker and a hairdresser came
together, they can form a bridal company where a tailor will make wedding
gowns, a baker will make wedding cakes and a hairdresser will provide salon
services,” Hon Kadaga advised, adding that the same applies to welders,
carpenters and builders who may also come together and form a complete building
and construction company.
“I’m impressed by the work of this skilling
program and from what I have seen around, we don’t need to import hospital
beds. They are here. I therefore want to ask the government to continue
supporting these youths by marketing their output and encouraging them to do
more,” the Kamuli Woman MP added.
She promised to support the skilled youths in
Busoga with at least 15 sewing machines per district and to provide a workspace
for the skilled youths to operate from.
On the other hand, the Minister for Presidency
Babirye Milly Babalanda noted that the skilling program has come at the right
time when the region (Busoga) has been grappling with the high rates of youth
unemployment perpetrated by the high school dropouts.
“Here in Busoga, we had a challenge of high school
dropouts and many had resorted to working in sugar plantations but the
President thought it wise to begin these industrial skilling hubs and today we
are seeing the fruits of his vision. We have to thank H.E Gen Yoweri Kaguta
Museveni and support him to continue his dream,” Minister Babalanda said,
adding that the President spends over 4 million shillings on each student in
terms of feeding, accommodation and training for the 6 months they spend in the
skilling hub not only in Busoga but in the 19 hubs across the country.
“Let me also use this opportunity to thank the
State House Comptroller and her team for overseeing this project so well. It is
true the funds are insufficient but as Minister for Presidency, I cannot do
this alone but with your support, Mama Kadaga and other members of Parliament;
so that many more youths can benefit from this program,” Hon. Babalanda
informed the chief guest.
She further called upon parents to support their
children to achieve their dreams.
“The government under the visionary leadership of
H.E the President has done its part. As parents, let’s also do our part by
providing what we can to support these youths. Don’t put a lot of demands on
them because they are just starting in life. And all of us are called upon to
continue supporting the President so that he continues with his vision of
ensuring that all Ugandans are skilled. This is how we are going to reach and
thrive in the middle-income status,” Minister Babalanda added.
Speaking at the event, the Director Presidential
Projects and Industrial Hubs at State House, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha informed
the chief guest that the President saw it wise to start Presidential hubs after
his countrywide assessment that Ugandans were poor partly because they lacked
what to do and many of those working were actually working only for the
stomach.
“We are glad that his dream of skilling the youths
with employable skills has come to pass. We have 19 hubs across the country and
together with the state house Comptroller we have traversed this country
passing out hundreds of youths who have now become job creators rather than job
seekers. Busoga regional hub is the last not because you’re less important, but
we decided to save the best for the last,” Eng. Raymond said.
He further informed the chief guest and the
graduates that the Engineering Brigade of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces
(UPDF) has offered to employ all the skilled youths in building and
construction, welding and metal fabrication and carpenters.
“I assure you that you will not earn below UGX.
500,000. So, the journey has just started. Work hard with discipline and the
sky will be the limit. Also, wherever you go in your homes, remember His
Excellency the President for giving you this opportunity. With these
opportunities, how can anyone stand against President Museveni?” Eng. Raymond
assured graduates.
Mr. Kamugisha thanked the patriotic team of state
House staff led by the State House Comptroller with whom they have traversed
the whole country passing out skilled graduates and the district committees for
spearheading the selection process of beneficiaries.
To date, a total of 8,992 youths between 18-35
years have been skilled and graduated from the 19 Presidential skilling hubs
across the country that include; Soroti-Teso (469), Napak-Karamoja (423),
Lira-Lango (478), Madi-Adjumani (450), Acholi-Gulu (584), Zombo-West Nile
(473), Kyenjojo-Tooro (489), Greater Mubende (448), Bundibugyo-Rwenzori (479),
Kasese-Rwenzori (466), Kabale-Kigezi (462), Mbarara-Greater Ankore (507),
Greater Masaka (447), Kayunga (462), Kibuku-Bukedi (477), Kwen-Sebei (456),
Mbale-Bugisu (482), Masindi-Bunyoro (454) and Jinja-Busoga (456).
The Member of Parliament for Kagoma North County
Hon. Brandon Kintu who is also the Spokesperson of the NRM caucus assured the
chief guest of the support by fellow members of parliament towards the skilling
hubs.
The Chairperson Hub Zonal Management Committee who
is also the LC 5 Chairman for Iganga Ezra Gabula appreciated President Museveni
for implementing the skilling component under the NRM Manifesto which is key in
fighting unemployment among the youths.
“I read somewhere that the president is going to
establish common user facilities in regional commercial districts with machines
to enable our graduates to work in groups and earn some money. If that program
can be implemented, we shall be grateful. In Busoga we say, “the one who gives
you, you give back,” Chairman Ezra Gabula said.
Mr. Gabula however asked the government to
construct more accommodation facilities at the skilling hub and also increase
the enrollment numbers from the current 16 students per district to cater for
the increasing need for vocational skills especially among the uneducated
youths.
Each learner was awarded with a Uganda Vocational
Qualifications Level One Certificate of the Directorate of industrial training
(DIT) Ministry of Education and Sports which is equivalent to the Uganda
certificate of education level and internationally recognized in the world of
work and recognized in Uganda’s education system by law.
The Deputy Director Assessment and Certification,
DIT Dr. Micheal Okumu, reminded the People of Busoga that Jinja and the region
has been a hub of industrialization in Uganda, a reason Jinja Vocational
Institute was established 42 years ago to skill the workers in the industries.
“In 2012, the Technical Vocational Education and
Training (TVET) strategic plan was launched in Jinja in line with the NRM
Manifesto aimed at skilling all Ugandans and also training in production and
innovations. Many other Ugandans have been trained here in Hotel, Tourism and
Hospitality and today, we are witnessing another milestone of the skilling
program. We are really so grateful to the fountain of honor H.E the president
of the Republic of Uganda for his vision,” Dr. Okumu said.
He informed the chief guest that the mandate of
DIT is developing standards for training and that’s what they have been doing
for these hubs, working with the State House to streamline the training
curriculum.
At the same ceremony, students who included Mukisa
Sarah from Kamuli district and Owino Daniel Okeya from Namayingo who completed
the course six months ago gave successful testimonies of how their lives have
changed after joining the money economy.
The ceremony was attended by the former State
Minister for Trade, Eng. Nelson Wambuzi Gagawala, officials from Busoga
Kingdom, Resident District Commissioners, LC 5 Chairpersons from the region,
District Commercial Officers and District National Resistance Movement-NRM
Chairpersons.
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