KAMPALA, March 10, 2025 –– The Ugandan youth must utilise online or digital learning platforms such as YouTube to boost their knowledge by looking from constructive content, this is according to Dr. Faith Mirembe Katana, the Special Presidential Assistant on Skilling and Education and Head of Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child [PISGBC] project.
However, the official cautioned the young people to desist from online platforms such as TikTok where they tend to waste a lot of time, and expensive data on entertainment.
Katana made the remarks recently at the Wabigalo Skilling Centre in Namuwongo, Kampala during a showcasing ceremony of the students’ products after six months of vocational training.
She also revealed that a total of Shs 990 million was spent by the State House on instructional materials within a period of two months for all the nine Presidential Skilling centres within Kampala.
She also revealed that at least Shs 200mln has been spent on lunch on a monthly basis for all the centres, while monthly salaries for instructors and support staff under the initiative amount to Shs 30mln.
“All that comes from the State House budget; we also have another 19 centres spread outside Kampala,” she explained.
Katana was responding to naysayers from opposition political parties who claim that the State House budget is bloated. She dismissed their claims as baseless and believes they are fueled by ignorance.
To deter cancer-causing utensils, Katana revealed that pottery is being introduced in the next intake to enable skilling beneficiaries to tap into that market for ceramics and pottery products which she said are much healthier-friendly compared to their plastic counterparts.
The Administrator of the Centre, David Nkwanga said the centre registered 667 students in August last year, but six months later, 125 candidates dropped out before they could register for the Directorate of Industrial Training [DIT] assessment.
The Centre, which offers a variety of practical courses such as construction, welding, plumbing and leather design, has managed to retain 542 students who are set to do their DIT exams next week, as a prerequisite for their graduation and certification. Of these, 49 students are female.
Other courses offered at the centre include mechanics, electronics repair, carpentry and electrical installation.
The event was attended by parents and other government officials such as Dr. Hillary Musoke, a Presidential Advisor on Agribusiness. It was also graced by Pastor Wilson Bugembe, a gospel singer and former street child who now preachers at The Worship House Church located in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso distrist
Bugembe ministered to the students, who were inspired by his life story of transformation from rags to riches.
Student speaks out on her skilling experience
Shivan Namara,18, a student who has been studying plumbing after she completed Primary Seven at Buganda Academy Primary School in 2023 in Entebbe said she recently earned money after repairing a water tap. “Since I started the course, I have so far earned Shs 50,000 which I got after repairing a water tap for a client,” she stated.
Her ambition is to start her own business and grow into a very prominent plumber in the country.
The PISGBC project has gone a mile ahead in skilling by incorporating other extracurricular subjects like Patriotism- to inculcate into the students’ minds the spirit of loving themselves and their country.
https://thecooperator.news/museveni-urges-universities-others-to-prioritise-skills-development/
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