She Turns Youths Into Tailors

By Ebenezer BifubyekaBETH Kanyabubaare has trained over 1,000 youths in tailoring. At the same time, she manufactures uniforms, graduation gowns, bedsheets, pillowcases and curtains for all schools and institutions in Mbarara. Kanyabubaare, 42, and her husband, Johnson Kanyabubaare, 45, say they joined hands to fight poverty and unemployment of young people. Located on Plot 30, Makhan Sigh street, their business, JOBE Fashions Tailoring Scheme, is testimony that tailoring is a good and respectable profession. “Most of the young tailors you see around the streets, are the products of this 13-year-old tailoring school. Currently, we have 29 students, among which two are boys,” she says. Kanyabubaare says that young boys are not interested in tailoring. She says students come to them because apart from getting sound training, the fees are affordable. Each student pays sh180,000 for the one-year course. Students are awarded a certificate after the course. “Some of our graduates have been joining the Institute of Teachers’ Education Kyambogo (ITEK) for further training,” Kanyabubaare discloses. “Besides training the youths, this company manufactures between 750,000 and 100,000 uniforms per month,” she adds. This mini-factory is equipped with 34 sewing machines and 25 employees. The Kanyabubaares do not stop at supplying uniforms to schools. They also supply hospitals, hotels and factories around Mbarara town. “For instance, we are the main suppliers of uniforms at Lake View Regency Hotel at Kiyanja,” she says.The firm’s Managing Director, Johnson Kanyabubaare says they are facing a problem of inadequate machinery and funding for the tailoring course. “We are facing another serious problem of duplicate materials on the market, which makes it difficult for a client to identify the authentic product,” he says.However, despite the challenges, FOBE has enabled many young people in Mbarara to acquire skills. At the end of the course, they are able to join gainful employment.As government embarks on the setting up of community polytechnics, it is important to keep in mind that vocational training is vital.Apart from putting up polytechnics, small-scale industries that train young people should be recognised by government. At JOBE Fashions Company, a two-week training has already yielded results. Sponsored by the European Union and Business Uganda Development Scheme, it was conducted by Eng. Denkule Leslie Aransiola.Ends