By Vision Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni has been commended for undertaking an initiative that has seen thousands of Ugandan youth acquire skills in different vocational fields.
The President was lauded by the State House comptroller, Jane Barekye, during the passing-out of 218 students who completed training at the Lango Zonal Industrial Hub in Ayere village, Lira City West Division, Lira City on Tuesday.
The group of 218 students successfully completed a six month vocational training in different disciplines, fully funded by Government.
The youth, who received Level I certificates from the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) were admitted in July 2022 for skills development training in tailoring, carpentry, bakery, knitting, shoemaking, hairdressing, welding, coffee processing, stone cutting and maize processing.
Genesis
In 2020, the Government set aside sh130b for the construction of 21 zonal industrial hubs across the country to enhance youth skilling and training.
The zonal industrial hubs seek to reduce unemployment rates, especially among the youth and also stimulate industrial production in the country.
Barekye hailed Museveni for initiating zonal industrial hubs across the country, which have equipped the youth with skills.
She urged the beneficiaries to utilise the acquired skills to work so as to transform their families and Uganda as a whole.
“To the learners, the vision of the President was to ensure that they are equipped with skills and apply them somewhere to improve their livelihoods,” Barekye noted, before imploring the graduands to ensure that the project is a success story.
Celestino Oceng, the manager Lango Zonal Industrial Hub, said they admitted 220 students, but only 218 completed the training. Two ladies dropped out when one fell ill and another joined the Uganda Police Force.
He also informed the State House comptroller that the beneficiaries are well-equipped with all the necessary skills and ready to transform Lango sub-region and Uganda at large, socially and economically.
The Northern Uganda Youth Member of Parliament (MP) Boniface Okot, also hailed the President Museveni for imparting knowledge to the youth through trainings at the zonal industrial hubs, spread across the country.
The legislator further requested the president to integrate the trainings into government development programmes, such Emyooga, the Parish Development Model, among others, and also provide the graduands with tools so that they can start working immediately.
Make Zonal Industrial Hub Initiative a success story
Meanwhile, while passing out 212 students who graduated from the Acholi Zonal Industrial Hub the same day, Barekye tasked the youth with making the zonal industrial hub initiative a success story in order to push Uganda’s socio-economic transformation agenda.
She said President Museveni initiated the industrial hubs project to enhance skilling and training and urged the beneficiaries not to disappoint him.
“Use the skills you have acquired to work and improve your livelihoods and that of your families,” Barekye advised.
“Please do not disappoint the President. Ensure that this becomes a success story; so go out and embrace the President’s vision of transforming Uganda socially and economically,” she added.
Free Courses
Jimmy Odong, the manager Acholi Presidential Industrial Hub, said the trainees underwent a free five-month training from August 4, 2022 to December 23, 2022, and were awarded Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) Level I Certificates after completing skills development training in different vocational disciplines.
