Leaders in Greater Ankole have commended President Yoweri Museveni for his vision of skilling the youths in the region as a way of dealing with unemployment. 

On Friday, Rwampara district Woman MP Molly Asiimwe thanked Museveni for his "foresighted dream of skilling the youths to become job creators".

In the same spirit, she also thanked the First Lady and education minister, Janet Museveni, for supporting the skilling programme, which is managed by the State House.

Asiimwe was speaking at a graduation ceremony of 507 students after their vocational training at the Greater Ankole Zonal Industrial Hub.

oman Member of Parliament Rwampara district Molly Asiimwe representing the Minister for Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, the State House Comptroller Jane Barekye and other political leaders admiring the works of the graduates of shoe making and leather products during the graduation for first and second intake 2023 of the Ankole Zonal Sub- Region Presidential Industrial Hub Parish Rushoozi, Sub-county Rubaya, Constituency Kashari North in Mbarara district on the 26th April 2024.

The facility is located in Muko village, Rushozi sub-county in Mbarara district.

The graduation cohort included students from the second and third intakes.

They received certificates in leather processing (shoemaking), tailoring and designing, bakery and confectionery, welding and metal fabrication, hairdressing and makeup, carpentry and joinery, and building and construction practice.

Asiimwe represented local government minister Raphael Magyezi at the graduation.

She appreciated the State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye, for being a good manager and fulfilling the dream of the President, and said the programme has been successful and impactful.

"Managing 19 industrial hubs is not easy, but you [Barekye] have done a good job in skilling our children and we know God will continue guiding you."

Woman Member of Parliament Rwampara district Molly Asiimwe representing the Minister for Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, the State House Comptroller Jane Barekye and other political leaders admiring the works of the Wielding and Metal fabrication during the graduation for first and second intake 2023 of the Ankole Zonal Sub- Region Presidential Industrial Hub Parish Rushoozi, Sub-county Rubaya, Constituency Kashari North in Mbarara district on the 26th April 2024.

MP Asiimwe said the programme has not only offered vocational skills, but also ensured that youths who had lost hope are ideologically sharpened to become good citizens in character, conduct and competence.

'Be innovative'

The graduating students were drawn from the administrative units of; Mbarara district, Mbarara city, Mitooma, Ntungamo, Rwampara, Rubirizi, Sheema, Rubanda, Buhweju, Bushenyi, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura and municipalities.

They were awarded a Uganda Vocational Qualifications Level One Certificate by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), which is equivalent to the Uganda Certificate of Education level.

“The certificate we are giving you is ISO-certified, meaning it is recognized for employment in East Africa and internationally," Johnson Turyamwesimira, the DIT principal qualifications officer, told the graduands.

Woman Member of Parliament Rwampara district Molly Asiimwe representing the Minister for Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, the State House Comptroller Jane Barekye and other political leaders with graduates cut the cake during the graduation for first and second intake 2023 of the Ankole Zonal Sub- Region Presidential Industrial Hub Parish Rushoozi, Sub-county Rubaya, Constituency Kashari North in Mbarara district on the 26th April 2024.

"Those who cannot find employment immediately, please be innovative and creative and start your own. We believe, if we can skill all Ugandans irrespective of age, we shall solve unemployment."

'Leave as changed people'

In her comments, Barekye highlighted that President Museveni started the industrial hubs to, among others, fight unemployment by creating jobs among the youth, reduce criminality and above all improve household incomes.

“In some countries, you see beautiful buildings but people residing in them are poor with no source of income. That’s why President Museveni came up with this initiative to ensure all Ugandans join the money economy."

Barekye also pledged to inform the President about the need to expand and construct more dormitories in hubs with a bigger catchment area in order to increase the number of children admitted per district.

The State House Comptroller further saluted the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) for instilling discipline in the students through mindset change and ideological training.

“We get children from different areas and backgrounds, some are married and others from the streets with their behaviours, but while here, we are assisted by the UPDF to orient them to become better and leave as changed people. 

"I thank them for accepting to be trained and skilled."

Kiruhura district Woman MP Jovanice Rwenduru pledged on behalf of her fellow legislators to continue supporting the President’s skilling programme so that more youths benefit.

“I also came here to express my support to this initiative of the President in skilling the youths such that they are not left behind in development," she said.

"In the NRM house, with President Museveni as our father, all Ugandans are equal. As Members of Parliament, we shall continue to support him."

Mbarara city mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi believes the programme will reduce criminality and unemployment among the youths in the region.

He urged the State House to consider having a skilling presidential hub per district to accommodate more numbers.

Raring to go

Beneficiary Nimusiima Ritah from Sheema district, who acquired skills in tailoring, is among the many that testified how the programme has changed their lives.

“I did not know anything but I can now make any type of garment you can think of," she said.

"I thank President Museveni and the NRM government for the skills you have given us. You have really empowered us to stop begging."

Naturinda Suzan from Rubirizi district focused on hairdressing.

She said that with the mindset change training by the UPDF, they are now confident in society and are not waiting for jobs to find them. 

“When you sleep, even the money sleeps. So, I’m working tirelessly to make my own money. I thank President Museveni.”

Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, the director of presidential projects and industrial hubs, appreciated the different partners with whom they are working to ensure the success of the skilling hubs.

The presidential skilling programme is being offered in other 18 State House-controlled regional industrial hubs located in Kyenjojo (Tooro), Ntoroko (Rwenzori), Kasese (Rwenzori), Greater Masaka, Greater Mubende, Mengo (Kampala), Mbale (Bugisu), Napak (Karamoja), Kween (Sebei), Gulu (Acholi), Lira (Lango), Masindi (Bunyoro), Zombo (West Nile), Greater Kayunga, Soroti (Teso), Kabale (Kigezi), Adjumani (Madi) and Tororo in Bukedi sub-region.