Skilling the youth: Bunyoro Zonal Industrial Hub passes out over 200
MASINDI– A total of 209 youth were passed out last Thursday after completing training in different practical courses at Bunyoro Zonal Industrial Hub, established to skill the youth in Bunyoro Sub-region.
Upon completing the training the trainees obtained Level One Certificate of Uganda Vocational Qualifications, under the Directorate of Industrial Training, Ministry of Education and Sports.
The youth who underwent training in welding, tailoring, carpentry, and hairdressing underwent a six-months training. They were also taken through mindset change programme by the officers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces [UPDF] Masindi Artillery Barracks.
According to Scovia Agatha Turyamuhebwa, the manager Bunyoro Zonal Industrial Hub, 220 youth had been admitted but nine dropped out due to chronical diseases.
They were drawn from the districts of Masindi, Hoima, Kiryandongo, Buliisa, Hoima, Kikuube, Kibaale, Kakumiro, Kagadi, Hoima city, and Masindi Municipality, each getting a slot of 22 students.
“The trainees are now well equipped and ready to propel social economic transformation in the region,” Turyamuhebwa noted.
Presiding over the function on Thursday, Jane Barekye, the State House Comptroller asked the trained youth to be job creators but not job seekers.
“We have 20 industrial hubs across the country. The objective of the president [Museveni] is for you to create jobs. Ensure that you make his vision achieved. Use these skills to change your households and the economy of this country,” said Barekye.
She, however, challenged the local leadership in Bunyoro Sub-region to link the beneficiaries to different government programmes and other skilling institutions.
Engineer Raymond Kamugisha, the director Presidential Projects/ Industrial Hubs, explained that the hubs are meant to help the needy youth, adding that the training is free of charge.
“We hope to improve where things have not gone well but we expect the leaders to ensure that you welcome these students in your specific districts,” he said.
Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi district LCV chairperson also the chairperson Bunyoro Industrial Hub steering committee asked the graduands not to despise themselves noting that the skills they have acquired can help them change their lives.
“He said to provide financial and material help to the trained youth. “As government, we need to find a way of equipping the youth either financially or materially because they are going to leave all the equipment they have been using here [at Bunyoro Industrial Hub],” Byaruhanga said.
Florence Asiimwe, the woman Member of Parliament Masindi district asked the residents of Bunyoro to embrace the institutions, adding that acquiring hand- on skills is the way to go.
Asiimwe, however, asked government to increase the number of courses being undertan and students admitted.
She also advised the beneficiaries to put into practice what they had learned and market themselves.
“Ensure that you are exceptional in whatever you do. This will help you get more market,” she advised.
Daudi Cwa, the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom minister for investments commended President Museveni for skilling the youths in the kingdom, noting that they are ready to work with government to ensure that the programme yields fruits.
“I am optimistic that the students won’t remain the same given the skills acquired. As a kingdom, we are going to incorporate in our budget activities which benefit the graduands. I challenge the local governments to also emulate the same,” he said.
Innocent Talemwa, who spoke on behalf of the students commended Museveni for helping them acquire skills, saying it will change their lives.
“We are happy that the president has enabled this to happen without doubt vocational skills is the way to end unemployment in this country,” he said.
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