President Museveni strongly supports teaching job skills to young people today. He believes these skills will improve Uganda's economy. The President spoke when he opened the Bunyoro Zonal Presidential Skilling Hub located in Kiryana Myebanyakalongo Village, Kimengo Sub County, Masindi District. He said this program helps wake up Africa from its economic sleep.
The President asked people to learn why the government started these training centers across different areas. He explained they exist to help young citizens gain useful abilities and become productive workers. He also told the people running these training centers they should teach more skills because more students want to learn them. The demand keeps growing as young people see how these programs help others succeed.
Museveni talked about how Uganda has changed from sending raw animal hides to other countries to making leather products right at home. He pointed to the Kawumu Tannery Factory as proof that this approach works well. Before, Uganda sent raw hides abroad, where other nations turned them into shoes and belts. Today, the Kawumu factory processes Ugandan leather, and students at the Bunyoro Skilling Hub use it to make shoes themselves.
The President criticized some school leaders and parents who misused the Universal Primary and Secondary Education programs. He urged all leaders to bring back truly free education at both levels, which would ensure poor children could still go to school. Museveni also announced plans to put money into District SACCOs, which will let young entrepreneurs borrow startup funds for their business ideas.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described these training hubs as extremely important for meeting Uganda's National Development Goals. She explained that students who learn practical skills can create jobs for themselves and hire others, strengthening the entire economy of Uganda. The training centers solve multiple problems at once by teaching useful skills that lead directly to work.
The First Lady Janet Museveni thanked her husband for starting this program that has helped many young people learn different trades. She said skilled youth find paying work or start businesses that support their families and communities. She gave credit to God for making the youth training program possible, saying human efforts alone cannot succeed without divine help.
Janet Museveni emphasized how important developing human skills becomes when a country tries to move from farming villages to modern prosperity. She called skills training a top priority and said the government keeps creating learning chances everywhere resources allow. The system works because it includes both formal and informal training paths for Ugandans of all backgrounds.
The First Lady pointed out that people who leave regular school early still have ways to reach their potential through these programs. Beyond the many technical schools already operating nationwide, this Presidential Initiative specifically helps vulnerable youth who cannot afford regular education. She believes this approach will build Uganda's workforce and reduce unemployment among young citizens.
Janet Museveni called on all able-bodied Ugandans to grab this chance to learn skills that benefit themselves and their neighborhoods. She mentioned the new TVET Act 2025, which lets the Ministry of Education regulate these programs properly. She also noted the merger of two testing agencies into the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board, which will evaluate all these training programs going forward.
The hub chairman, Byaruhunga Cosmas, praised the program and reported that 893 students have graduated. These graduates learned bakery, brick-making, hairdressing, welding, and tailoring. He mentioned transportation challenges faced by students trying to reach the training center. Several successful graduates shared their stories at the event, including Tibareka Granimer, who studied construction and secured contracts that provided a steady income.
Another success story came from Kobusinge Amanya, who studied tailoring. After graduation, she invested 350,000 Ugandan shillings in her business, which she launched. She earns about 50,000 shillings daily from her sewing work, which gives her enough money to support her entire family. These real examples show how practical skills lead directly to better lives for program participants.
The President asked people to learn why the government started these training centers across different areas. He explained they exist to help young citizens gain useful abilities and become productive workers. He also told the people running these training centers they should teach more skills because more students want to learn them. The demand keeps growing as young people see how these programs help others succeed.
Museveni talked about how Uganda has changed from sending raw animal hides to other countries to making leather products right at home. He pointed to the Kawumu Tannery Factory as proof that this approach works well. Before, Uganda sent raw hides abroad, where other nations turned them into shoes and belts. Today, the Kawumu factory processes Ugandan leather, and students at the Bunyoro Skilling Hub use it to make shoes themselves.
The President criticized some school leaders and parents who misused the Universal Primary and Secondary Education programs. He urged all leaders to bring back truly free education at both levels, which would ensure poor children could still go to school. Museveni also announced plans to put money into District SACCOs, which will let young entrepreneurs borrow startup funds for their business ideas.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described these training hubs as extremely important for meeting Uganda's National Development Goals. She explained that students who learn practical skills can create jobs for themselves and hire others, strengthening the entire economy of Uganda. The training centers solve multiple problems at once by teaching useful skills that lead directly to work.
The First Lady Janet Museveni thanked her husband for starting this program that has helped many young people learn different trades. She said skilled youth find paying work or start businesses that support their families and communities. She gave credit to God for making the youth training program possible, saying human efforts alone cannot succeed without divine help.
Janet Museveni emphasized how important developing human skills becomes when a country tries to move from farming villages to modern prosperity. She called skills training a top priority and said the government keeps creating learning chances everywhere resources allow. The system works because it includes both formal and informal training paths for Ugandans of all backgrounds.
The First Lady pointed out that people who leave regular school early still have ways to reach their potential through these programs. Beyond the many technical schools already operating nationwide, this Presidential Initiative specifically helps vulnerable youth who cannot afford regular education. She believes this approach will build Uganda's workforce and reduce unemployment among young citizens.
Janet Museveni called on all able-bodied Ugandans to grab this chance to learn skills that benefit themselves and their neighborhoods. She mentioned the new TVET Act 2025, which lets the Ministry of Education regulate these programs properly. She also noted the merger of two testing agencies into the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board, which will evaluate all these training programs going forward.
The hub chairman, Byaruhunga Cosmas, praised the program and reported that 893 students have graduated. These graduates learned bakery, brick-making, hairdressing, welding, and tailoring. He mentioned transportation challenges faced by students trying to reach the training center. Several successful graduates shared their stories at the event, including Tibareka Granimer, who studied construction and secured contracts that provided a steady income.
Another success story came from Kobusinge Amanya, who studied tailoring. After graduation, she invested 350,000 Ugandan shillings in her business, which she launched. She earns about 50,000 shillings daily from her sewing work, which gives her enough money to support her entire family. These real examples show how practical skills lead directly to better lives for program participants.
