Govt builds technical school

By Tom Gwebayanga

The LC5 chairperson of Kamuli, Salaamu Musumba has hailed the Government for supporting the ‘Skilling Uganda’ initiative by constructing the first government-owned technical institute in Kamuli district.

“It has been painful seeing that Government did not have a technical institute here yet the youth lack skills. It has happened during my regime and I am happy,” a beaming Musumba, who is also the Forum for Democratic Change vice-president, said.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of Kamuli Technical Institute at Nawanyago sub-county headquarters on Sunday, Musumba said once complete, its graduates will use their skills to transform their communities socially and economically and help address unemployment.

According to Richard Mugulusi, an engineer with Arch Design, the institute is one of the nine sites under construction being funded by the OPEC for international development, financed by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with each site going for sh5.8b.

The institute shall offer training in plumbing, building, concrete practice, welding, fabrication, computer training, motor vehicle mechanics, tailoring and carpentry.

Kamuli had only one technical institute, St. Joseph Polytechnic, which is run by the Roman Catholic Church. The LC5 vice-chairperson, John Basalirwa, said the institute will be a big stride in the education sector.

Mugulusi said the complex shall have a main block that will accommodate over 150 students, an administration block, a library, workshops, a computer room and a board room.

Other buildings will include non-staff houses, generator, gas cages, a kitchen and a store. Rudi and Roma, the proprietors of Ambitious Construction Ltd, said the contract they signed with the Government in November stipulates that the work shall be completed in December 2014.