The formerly unemployed youngsters undertaking training under the State House-funded Skilling Uganda initiative have finally finished their courses in diverse disciplines after six months of hard instruction.
Several government officials who visited the nine centers in Kampala’s five divisions were impressed by the trainees who demonstrated their newly learned hands-on abilities.
The majority of the youths have shown what they have learned since being recruited in March 2023 as they prepare to write their final tests set by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT).
During an exhibition at St. Andrew Kaggwa Catholic Church Kigoowa in Nakawa Division, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, the state minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs, Dr. Hillary Musoke aka Kisanja, the director national skilling program, Don Wanyama, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Vision Group, Dr. Faith Katana Mirembe, the Special Presidential Assistant on Education and Skilling, Dr. Faith Katana Mirembe,
Dr. Katana disclosed that the State House spent more over sh8 billion on the initiative every six months. She stated that approximately 30,000 young people had been taught as part of the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl/Boy Child.
Youths acquire talents such as shoemaking, tailoring, needlework, baking, and hair styling, among others. “This initiative is God-sent, we therefore thank President Yoweri Museveni and others who are providing the funds,” she stated.
Along Nile Avenue, other skilling centers include Wandegeya, Wabigalo, Mutundwe, Mulago, Kikoni, Nakulabye, Luzira Prisons, and Subway.
Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha, the deputy Resident City Commissioner in charge of the Nakawa Division, spoke to journalists and praised President Museveni for giving possibilities for Ugandans to get life-practical skills.
He stated that the program was non-political and accepted young people who simply needed to show a letter of reference from their local leaders and an identity card from a parent or guardian.
“We in the security circles are excited about this program because it is reducing crime, the many wrong youths are now kept busy and have become productive and abandoned the wrong activities they were involved in,” he said.
Dr. Musoke said that the program began with 860 trainees in two centers but has now grown to handle over 6,200 participants.
He requested that the Kampala Capital City Authority provide them with space on which to establish larger manufacturing centers to accommodate the growing population.
