The Teso zonal presidential industrial hub in Arapai sub-county, Soroti City, has been put into service by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The Presidential Initiative, which equips more than 12,000 youths annually, includes the Teso Presidential Industrial Hub as one of 19 facilities across the country.
On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, President Museveni officially opened the hub and thanked the skilling program’s recipients.
The Teso Zonal Presidential Industrial Hub has produced more than 354 female graduates and 358 male graduates.
Since its founding in 2023, the Hub has provided 712 young people with free skills training in a variety of subjects.
Testimonies from graduates, some of whom President Museveni honored by lending financial support to their businesses, were highlights of the commissioning.
Among them was Mr. Oumo Gabriel from the Bukedea area, who has already hired four young people and received a Sh4 million grant to grow his welding business.
Ms. Frances Gloria Akareut from Katakwi district received sh5m to improve her shoe-making firm and Ms. Isanyu Rose from Serere district was assisted with sh10m for the acquisition of equipment to expand her bakery project.
Departments of Teso Zonal Presidential Industrial Hub include; shoe making, carpentry and joinery, metal welding and fabrication, construction and concrete practice, hairdressing and tailoring.
During the hub’s launch, President Museveni, who was in the Teso sub-region on an assessment tour of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program, declared that the government would establish other skill disciplines that would be in line with market need.
“After you master a skill, you should consider the market to see who will purchase what you produce. Following some discussion, I want the tasks to involve weaving and spinning so that you can create clothing.
He emphasized that although the tailoring programs currently use pre-made fabric, you should learn how to produce the material yourself.
The President went on to say that carpentry, ceramics, and motor mechanics should be included as additional training components.
He suggested that further woodworking would involve creating wooden combs, plates, and other items like musical instruments.
“In the 1940s, we used wooden plates instead of the ones you use today because wooden spoons and plates would last a lot longer,” he said.
Additionally, President Museveni noted that one of the elements that should be included in the hub’s training is food processing.
Regarding the initial money, President Museveni was pleased to see that SACCOs had already been established in the districts to assist the hub beneficiaries by the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, along with a few RCCs and RDCs.
“I am happy that the Comptroller and RDCs have already established SACCOs in the districts because I could see that the district was close to the SACCO and that the zone was too far away,” he said.
Regarding the common-user amenities, President Museveni promised skilling hub graduates that additional research would be conducted to determine how the best graduates may benefit from the facilities besides personal kits that can be purchased individually.
The President also used the ceremony to caution head teachers at government schools against charging fees, calling the behavior as a big contributing factor to school dropouts.
“You’ve seen how beneficial these courses are, and if some of the actors hadn’t obstructed us, we could have done more for all the other youths,” the president stated.
He reminded the audience that the 1996 NRM manifesto made it plain that the government’s goal was to provide free education for all children in primary and secondary schools.
“UPE and USE were introduced in the 1996 manifesto, and although the program is meant to be free for government schools, some individuals reinstate fees in elementary and secondary schools, so that’s how
When I encounter these obstacles, I occasionally question if I should go back to the jungle and crush these individuals or anything else. I told them to be patient because some of them are unaware of our past. We’ll examine how we might persuade them to drop the charges against government schools in a nonviolent manner.
The President further disclosed that he was inspired to establish the Presidential skilling programs in order to provide the kids with free training because of these obstacles and his aggravation.
“You’ve seen how it operates, and in fact, this one is more costly than UPE and USE because you have to provide lodging and food for the youngsters who are traveling from a distance, which adds to the expenses. The government purchases textbooks, constructs classrooms, and compensates teachers. President Museveni joked, “Why should the head teachers still charge extra fees?”
“UPE children are supposed to walk from home to school and go back, even USE children should come from home, they can walk or use bicycles if it is a bit far. Children, when you go back, tell your parents that please stop these head teachers from collecting money from children so that children study,” President Museveni stressed.
The Vice President, Jessica Alupo commended President Museveni for his commitment towards the development of human resource in Uganda, saying that it cannot be over-emphasised.
“From the introduction of UPE, Use, technical and vocational education, it is very clear that Your Excellency, your leadership in government but also in NRM as a party has produced tremendous achievements and results that speak for themselves,” she said.
The Vice President also thanked the President for his vision of setting up the Presidential Industrial Skilling hubs throughout Uganda that have enabled the youths acquire skills and competences, required in the world of work.
“Majority of the jobs are in the private sectors and as per our policy, our economy is private sector-led, it is therefore timely that you conceived the vision of establishing the Presidential skilling hubs in all the 18 sub regions of Uganda to prepare all our youth to enable them acquire skills and competences for the world of work,” she added.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among thanked President Museveni for the inclusive leadership that has enabled him to cater for all Ugandans including the youths.
“Your leadership empowers everyone. We have the PDM, Emyooga and the skilling initiatives for the youths. We want to thank you so much,” she said.
She emphasised the importance of such programs in transforming the lives of the young people, promoting self-reliance, and fostering economic growth in the region.
“As Parliament, we want to assure and promise you that we shall prioritise all the money for this kind of activity,” stated Among.
She also commended Barekye (State House Comptroller) for the mindset change campaigns through the skilling programmes.
The Soroti Resident City Commissioner (RCC) also the Chairperson of the hub committee, Mr. Peter Pex Paak, said the zonal hub stands as a testimony to President Museveni’s transformational and visionary leadership which has seen very many youths acquire skills in different vocational disciplines like; carpentry, hairdressing, welding, fashion and design, among others.
“This hub aligns very well with the NRM Manifesto of 2021-2026 particularly page 70 which emphasizes turning the youths into manufacturers using zonal industrial hubs. Your Excellency, I wish to report to you that using the skills acquired here some youths have already established welding, saloons and carpentry workshops while others have been employed in the UPDF construction sites and other institutions,” he said.
“We don’t just offer them skills, but we equip them with ideological training, particularly the NRM principles,” he said.
The RCC also noted that the State House and District Committees have already mobilised former trainees to form district SACCOs to help them get start-up capital.
He requested more land for the hub to set up a four-acre model farm.
Other dignitaries at the launch events included; The Minister of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa, Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Akello Rose Lilly, Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Kenneth Omona, the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, Members of Parliament, Religious and cultural leaders.