Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Peter Lokeris, commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his efforts in tackling youth unemployment through initiatives such as the Presidential Industrial Zonal Hubs project. Currently, there are 19 Industrial Zonal Hubs spread across the country.
“Our President is thinking for all the people of Uganda. He even established a special program for Karamoja to uplift it because it was lagging behind,” he assured.
Lokeris made these remarks as the Chief Guest during the second graduation of 423 students who successfully completed their vocational training at Napak Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Napak District.
The graduates, representing various backgrounds from nine districts and two municipalities in the Karamoja region, were awarded certificates in seven employable vocational disciplines, including Tailoring and Design, Hairdressing and Makeup, Building and Construction Practice, Carpentry & Joinery, Welding and Metal Fabrications, Bakery & Confectionery, and Leather Processing (Shoe Making).
Lokeris explained that President Museveni initiated the skilling program with the main focus of alleviating poverty among Ugandan youth.
“The President came up with this idea to train the youth to acquire skills and stop being redundant. The aim was to empower youth irrespective of their educational background. All this is aimed at lifting you out of poverty and improving your livelihoods,” the Minister noted.
He also praised President Museveni’s visionary initiative to skill uneducated youth, which has significantly increased the number of skilled workers in Karamoja and across the country.
The State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye, congratulated the graduates on their achievement and thanked the Ministry of Education, under the leadership of Janet Museveni, for legalizing the certificates through the Directorate of Industrial Training.
Barekye also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Local Government for providing land for setting up the Industrial Hub project and acknowledged the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) for their role in changing the beneficiaries’ mindset during their study at the hub.
She reiterated the objectives of President Museveni’s skilling program, which include reducing youth unemployment, fostering entrepreneurship, bridging the gap between the employed and unemployed, improving household incomes, substituting imports, and promoting exports.
“As State House, we have a plan awaiting the President’s approval to start a common user facility in some districts of the region so that graduates can work together as a group, use their savings as capital, and start their own businesses,” she added.
Barekye urged Karamoja leaders to mandate non-government organizations to employ graduates for projects in the region, thereby enabling them to apply their skills.
The Napak District LCV Chairperson, John Paul Kodet, noted the initial low turnout due to security concerns but credited the UPDF for pacifying the region, resulting in increased enrollment in subsequent intakes.
The UPDF 3rd Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Don Nabasa, thanked President Museveni for initiating the skilling program, which has transformed the lives of beneficiaries and steered them away from potential conflicts.
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