350 students enrol for free vocational training at subway centre under president Museveni's skilling initiative
The students, who make up the centre’s eighth cohort, will receive training in four vocational areas: bakery, weaving, knitting and shoemaking.
Youths from Kampala suburbs being registered for the different skilling programmes at Subway Training centre in Kampala on Thursday. (PPU photos)
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A total of 350 students have today (August 13) enrolled for a six-month free vocational skills training programme at the Subway Skilling Centre in Kampala under the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child.
The students, who make up the centre’s eighth cohort, will receive training in four vocational areas: bakery, weaving, knitting and shoemaking.
The programme is part of a Presidential initiative aimed at equipping disadvantaged young people with practical skills to enable them to become self-reliant, secure employment and improve their livelihoods.
Stellamaris Katushabe, the Supervisor of Subway Skilling Centre, said the centre provides breakfast and lunch to the students to help them concentrate on their studies throughout the training period.
She said the programme primarily targets disadvantaged young people, including youths from ghettos and school dropouts, by giving them an opportunity to acquire practical skills and a second chance in life.
“We target the unprivileged students, including those from the ghettos and school dropouts. Our aim is to give them a second chance so that they can live better and happier lives,” Katushabe said.
Ronah Kamahoro Natukunda, the Administrator of Subway Skilling Centre, said the centre currently has the capacity to train only 350 students because of limited space.
She appealed for additional space and facilities, saying this would enable the centre to accommodate and train more young people.
Some of the youths who turned up and registered for this year’s intake of the Presidential Initiative on skilling the youth at the Subway Training centre in Kampala being taken on a guided tour 
Natukunda said the programme has transformed many young people, who have passed through the centre, with several graduates leaving with skills that have enabled them to start their own businesses.
She commended President Yoweri Museveni for supporting disadvantaged young people and creating opportunities for those who had previously struggled to find a path to self-reliance.
“Many people have reformed and are now doing well because of these opportunities. We thank the President for helping the needy and those who had lost hope in life,” she said.
The students also expressed appreciation for the opportunity, saying the skills they are acquiring will help them become self-reliant and improve their livelihoods after completing the training.
The Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child is a free vocational training programme established by State House in 2017 under the directive of President Museveni to equip disadvantaged young people with practical skills and create opportunities for self-employment.