The Tooro Presidential Industrial Hub has strategized to train youth in different skills including bakery, brick making and stone cutting, shoe making, tailoring and knitting, Coffee and maize processing, welding, hair dressing and others through common user facilities to empower them to join the money economy, as revealed by the State House Comptroller Jane Barekye.
Ms Barekye who was meeting district leaders from Rwenzori sub-region on Saturday at Kijwiga Village Kyejojo district said that the program intends to assist the youth who have not had a chance to go to school but can get skills which will help them earn some money and join the money economy.
The Tooro Presidential Industrial Hub one of the 21 the Presidential Industrial Hubs around the country is one of the President’s initiative to skill Ugandan youth and can accommodate up to 300 students per semester.
The leaders at the meeting included RDCs, LCV Chairpersons and District NRM Chairmen, from the districts of Kabalore, Kyenjojo, Kyengegwa, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kamwenge and Kitagwenda.
The meeting was held to explain to the leaders the benefits and the guidelines of the regional Presidential Industrial Hubs as they prepare to officially commission them and start using them to skill the youth.
“No student will pay any school fees, government will cater for the welfare of the students and therefore they’re required to only report at the industrial hub after going through all other necessary processes and they will be fed and taught at the industrial hub for six month and graduate with certificates,” she said.
The Presidential Industrial Hubs managed under State House are set to revolutionize youth empowerment and drive to promote social transformation of the Ugandan society from a predominant peasant and low-income economy to a competitive middle-income economy.
She however warned leaders against any form of corruption in selecting the beneficiaries that may fail this program.
Eng. Kamugisha Raymond, the Head of the Presidential Industrial Hubs applauded President Museveni for initiative aimed at empowering youth into money economy.
Eng. Kamugisha said that training will be conducted in the local languages so that everyone is able to understand.
“There will be no use of English in order not to leave anybody behind since the program is targeting the youth who have not had a chance to go to school,” he said.
He said that the youth who will be studying from the Presidential Industrial Hubs will also have a chance to go through exercises and drills (Kyakamukyaka) to keep them fit and healthy and will be assisted by the UPDF.
John Nyakahuma, the Chief Administrative officer (CAO) Kyenjojo District hailed government for giving a chance to uneducated youth to get skills that enables them to fight poverty in their villages.
Gilbert Rubaihayo, Chairman LCV Kyenjojo thanked the President for fulfilling his pledge of setting up skills training Industrial hubs for the needy people and trusting the local leaders to be part of the project.
Julian Sarah Ayesiga from Kyenjojo urged the President to allow people who are above the maximum official youth age of 35 years to be allowed to join the program if they have the willingness to learn.