Jane Barekye, the state house comptroller (In a guan) accompanied by the Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua (in darks shades) and other leaders inspecting the bakery at Lango Zonal hub on April 18, 2024
By Sharon Akello and Simon Wokorach
Lira/Gulu: More than 900 underprivileged youth in Lango and Acholi sub-regions have become self-reliant after completing training in various courses in the presidential zonal hubs in both sub-regions.
On April 18th, 478 youths from all districts in Lango sub-region graduated from Zonal Industrial Hub and were awarded certificates in various disciplines such as; tailoring and design, Hairdressing and makeup, Building and Construction Practice, Carpentry & Joinery, Welding and metal fabrications, Bakery & Confectionery and Leather processing (shoe making). On 19th April, 484 youths from the Acholi Zonal Industrial Hub, graduated in the same disciplines.
They were awarded level one certificates upon completion of a six-month course under the directorate of industrial training in the Ministry of Education and Sports.
What beneficiaries say
Meanwhile, the trainees have commended the government for empowering them with skills after dropping out of school for formal academics.
Charity Alum Okello, a mother of two and a resident of Alyep village in Aputi Sub-County, Amolatar District said before joining the skilling hub, she was a housewife and depended on her husband’s meager salary which did not meet all their basic needs.
Alum who studied tailoring and garment cutting, said the hub, upon completion of her course, the hub gave her some startup kits, while her husband bought her a sewing machine and fabrics to start a tailoring business, and she is hoping for a better future.
“As he waits for his salary, I don’t, because I keep earning every day,” Alum said.
Alum works alone in her tailoring shop but has plans to start admitting students to training for a small fee.
Sunday Arach, a beneficiary from Labora Sub County in Omoro District who graduated with a certificate in Bakery and confectionery from the Zonal Hub in Acholi, is hopeful that her life will improve with the skills acquired.
After completing ‘O’ Level, Arach, could not continue with formal education due to lack of funds. But after joining the skills hub, she said she could start a baking business.
Daniel Okidi, another beneficiary from Pajule Town Council in Pader District had lost hope after failing to join secondary school because of a lack of fees.
Now, Okidi has skills in Welding and Metal Fabrication and earns between 10,000 and 20,000 daily and has a plan to earn more money from training more youths.
“I got employed by some company in Atiak. Now I want to save about shs 8m and open my metal workshop in Pader,” Okidi said.
Meanwhile, the Acholi Industrial Hub has also launched an innovation of manufacturing hand-walking tractors to support farmers in the region with simple mechanization for production.
Denis Oola, a resident of Opara Sub County, Amuru district, who graduated with a certificate in Welding and Metal Fabrication, said they had so far produced 4 hand walking tractors and taken them to the market.
The tractor which is sold at shs3m, can plough an acre a day. “The tractor is easier to manage than the bulls which you need to feed and take care of every day,” Oola said.
Youth challenged to optimally utilize skills
Rwot David Onen Acana II, the Paramount Chief of Acholi, however, challenged the youths from the region to maximize their potential in the digital space.
Acana argued that if young people can positively interact with others in the digital space, they can create connections to promote their skills, services, and products from within and outside the world.
“Don’t wait for the government to support you but do what you can to move out of poverty and you have the advantage of social media. Don’t use it to insult others but market yourselves,” Acana warned.
Dr. Kenneth Omona, the State Minister for Northern Uganda, commended the government for skilling the youths who constitute the largest percentage of the population.
Through skill development, Dr. Omona argued that the government is better placed to fight unemployment since youths will sustainably remain relevant in the job market.
He reminded the youth that they are ranked among the poorest in the country, and advised that “coming out of poverty will start with a mindset change on how to look at things.”
Governments’ plans
Jane Barekye, the State House Comptroller, said under the Presidential Industrial Skilling Initiative program, the government plans to establish 38 new common user facilities in collaboration with skilled youths in two districts per region.
“These graduates will be using these facilities on a rotation basis because they are many and we cannot put them all together…they will pick capital after making their sales,” Barekye said.
According to her, continued skilling of the youth will transform Ugandan society from a predominantly peasant and low-income economy to a more competitive middle-income economy, explaining that the youth will become job creators instead of job seekers.
“After this group has sold for 5-6 months, they will now do their businesses wherever they want to go and a new intake takes over,” she added.
There are 19 Industrial Zonal Hubs spread across the country, but plans are underway to increase them to 33, according to the Directorate of Industrial Training.
