Major General Francis Okello, the Commandant of the National Defence College Uganda (NDC-U) and a high-ranking officer in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has stressed the importance of skilling youth as a crucial driver of Uganda’s socio-economic development and national security.
Speaking during a visit to the Bunyoro Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Masindi, he noted that equipping young people with practical skills fosters innovation, industrialisation, and job creation.
Leading the third intake of NDC-U course members on a national study tour, Maj Gen Okello stated, “This hub is empowering the youth with skills to promote innovation and industrialisation, which creates jobs and solves unemployment.
This leads to increased production, mindset change, and contributes to national security because most youth will be involved in production rather than joining negative forces.”
He further explained that President Museveni’s vision of establishing industrial hubs was a strategic move to combat unemployment and poverty. Maj Gen Okello urged the youth at the hub to use their new skills to become job creators rather than job seekers, stressing the importance of making tangible contributions to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
Brigadier General Charity Bainababo, a course member and UPDF representative in Parliament, encouraged the trainees to form groups and access government schemes like the Emyooga programme to support their entrepreneurial projects. She praised the youth for their dedication to acquiring practical skills, which will enable them to earn a living and support their families.
Mrs Agather Turyahebwa, manager of the Bunyoro Zonal Presidential Industrial Hub, thanked NDC-U for selecting the hub for their visit. She reiterated that the initiative, launched by President Museveni, is designed to make youth job creators and help tackle unemployment.
The Bunyoro hub is one of 19 zonal industrial skilling hubs established across Uganda, fulfilling President Museveni’s 2021 pledge to empower the youth with practical skills and drive industrialisation.