Balaam to rally Cabinet on skilled youth start-up capital
May 01, 2024
“We propose to begin with two common user facilities. We hope and pray that you support us when we bring our budget to Parliament,” he told the MPs.
State minister for youths and children affairs Balaam Barugahare interacts with some of the youths who graduated in different fields at the Mengo regional hub in Kayunga on Tuesday. (PPU Photos)
New Vision Journalist
Journalist @New Vision
_____________________
Youth and Children Affairs state minister Balaam Barugahara has promised to rally fellow ministers in Cabinet to set aside funds to enable skilled youth to be given tools as start-up capital.
Barugahara pledged on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, during the passing out of over 450 youth who were skilled under the Presidential skill initiative at the Mengo Zonal Presidential Industrial Hub in Bugerere-Nazigo, Kayunga district.
“With the skills you have acquired, you don’t have to start looking for jobs. Use the skills very well to start your job and have an income. I encourage you to use the funds sent through the Youth Livelihood program to start something for yourselves,” Barugahara said.
He also lauded President Yoweri Museveni for fighting unemployment through skilling the youths. This initiative, according to Barugahara, has helped to turn the youth into job creators.
According to him, all government programmes such as the presidential industrial hubs are designed to help all Ugandans join the money economy, which is part of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s transformational agenda.
Over 450 youths skilled
A total of 462 trainees (2nd and 3rd intakes) drawn from 11 districts in the central region completed their vocational training and were awarded certificates in seven disciplines: Bakery & confectionery, welding and metal fabrications, leather processing (shoe-making), tailoring and designing, hairdressing and makeup, building and construction practice as well as carpentry & joinery.
Minister for Kampala City and Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda praised the skilling programme, saying it has offered many youths an opportunity to get employment. She said thousands of the youths have been skilled in Kampala alone for free.
Each skilled youth was awarded the Uganda Vocational Qualifications Level One Certificate by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT). The certificate is equivalent to the Uganda Certificate of Education level according to DIT deputy director in charge of qualification standards Safinah Nakyobe.
“This certificate is going to help you join the world of work. The products you have made as samples are very good and can be put on the market immediately. Please don’t sit on your skills. I also thank the President for the initiative of skilling because many Ugandans who are not skilled are struggling to make ends meet,” Nakyobe said.
Way to change the country
Director presidential projects and industrial hubs Eng. Raymond Kamugisha thanked President Museveni for having the vision to begin the industrial skilling hubs that are turning uneducated youth into job creators with certificates.
“It has never happened in Uganda that a person who has never gone to school, can come here, learn a skill graduate in vocational skills, and can do something for themselves. A student who has studied and completed Senior Six, what skills does he have? This is the only way we can change our country. I thank the President for this initiative,” Kamugisha said, adding that all skilled graduates will be followed up by the Government to check on what they are doing.
He urged Members of Parliament to support their plans to expand the programme where they are planning to set up common user facilities for the skilled youths to continue practising their trades and also market their products.
“We propose to begin with two common user facilities. We hope and pray that you support us when we bring our budget to Parliament,” he told the MPs.
Supporting the local market
The request was welcomed by Kayunga District Woman Member of Parliament Idah Erios Nantaba who pledged her support and that of fellow MPs to ensure the programme continues to impact many more in society.
“We always appropriate money to buy hospital equipment including beds that cost shilllings five million each, but I have been told, a hospital bed made from here costs only shillings one million, and they are of good quality. This is why we need to support this programme,” Hon. Nantaba said.
Capt. Yunus Ntegeka from the UPDF Engineering Brigade informed the graduates that the force is implementing a directive from Commander-in-Chief Museveni to construct all government projects, adding that the skilled youth from the presidential hubs are going to be their priority while implementing the directive.
“We have projects in almost every district and we are using local content. We employ youth from the villages and pay them accordingly. So, if we can employ others who are not skilled, why can’t we start recruiting our skilled graduates so long as you’re disciplined,” Ntekega said.
He also called upon the skilled youths in carpentry, building, plumbing, and metal fabrication to register with the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) because their database will be key in offering employment in the projects undertaken by the UPDF.
Mengo Zonal Industrial hub in Kayunga attracts youths from 11 districts which include Butambala, Kayunga, Mukono, Wakiso, Buikwe, Nakasongola, Gomba, Mpigi, and Luwero.
Testimonies
The students who graduated and acquired employment expressed gratitude to President Museveni for skilling them and enabling them to join the money economy.
Among them was Nnanozi Siama who acquired skills in tailoring: “Before coming here I had completed primary seven but had nothing to do and my life had been messed up. After the six-month training, I’m now able to make any garment. Even the dress I’m wearing I made myself. I thank President Museveni because I can make my own money, something I never thought of”.
Another graduate, Jjumba Ashraf from Butambala, said he had studied up to Senior Six but failed to find something to do for himself because he lacked skills: “After six months of learning welding and fabrication, I’m better off than a person who spent 16 years studying up to senior six with no skill. I’m able to buy anything I want for myself courtesy of President Yoweri Museveni”.
The ceremony attracted a section of leaders from the NRM and the Opposition notably the National Unity Platform who commended President Museveni for the non-partisan initiative of skilling all Ugandans to join the money economy. Among them was Mukono district chairperson the Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa who rallied fellow leaders to support the programme.
The ceremony was also graced by several dignitaries including State House staff, MPs, RDCs, district LC5 chairpersons, district commercial officers, chief administrative officers, and NRM district chairpersons, among others.
No Comment