East African Gazette
Karamoja
Minister of Karamoja Affairs Peter Lokeris has praised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for his efforts in reducing youth unemployment through the Presidential Industrial Zonal Hubs project, among other initiatives.
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There are currently 19 Industrial Zonal Hubs dispersed throughout the nation.
“Our President is thinking for us all the people of Uganda. He even put up a special program for Karamoja to develop it because it was lagging behind,” he noted.
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He was officiating at the second graduation of 423 students who successfully completed their vocational training at Napak Presidential Industrial Skilling hub in Napak District.
The graduates who represent a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences from the nine districts of Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Kotido, Karenga, Amudat, Nabilatuk, Kaabong and the two municipalities of Moroto and Kotido in the Karamoja sub region were awarded with certificates in seven (7) employable vocational disciplines namely.
They include: tailoring and design, hairdressing and makeup, building and construction practice, carpentry and Joinery, welding and metal fabrications, Bakery; confectionery and Leather processing (shoemaking).
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According to Lokeris, the primary goal of President Museveni’s skill-building initiative was to combat youth poverty in Uganda.
“The President came up with this idea to train the youth to be skilled in order to stop being redundant. The idea was to get the youth into groups so that they can get skills irrespective of their education background. All this is to get you out of poverty and improve your livelihoods,” the Minister noted.
The Minister also hailed what he termed as visionary and strategic initiative of the President to skill the uneducated youth which he said has done a lot in increasing the number of skilled workforces in Karamoja and across the country.
“People were saying there were not enough skilled people here to build houses but now you have the skills in construction. When I was still a minister in charge of roads, we did not have any Karamojong employed in the construction of Soroti-Moroto road,” he noted.
“Those engineers told me that a few they hired never went back once they got paid some money. This is now going to stop because you are qualified people and know what to do professionally. This president of yours is really thinking about you,” he added.
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He assured the graduates that they would be able to find employment and support themselves with their newfound abilities.
“When you set up businesses and they become successful, you will be able to pay taxes that develop the country. We have told people that this kind of project is for everyone. The good thing is, it is not for highly educated people, even those who have not gone to school are shown what to do and they can do it. It doesn’t matter if you know English or not; English is just a language. They will look for you because the jobs are with you. That talent which you have acquired is a job itself,” Lokeris said.
The State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye congratulated the graduates upon achieving the milestone.
“I want to thank the Ministry of Education under the leadership of Maama Janet Museveni for giving us a chance to allow our certificate to be legalised by the Directorate of Industrial Training. This is a heavy certificate which can take you to levels until you reach a PhD,” she said.
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“Karamoja has so many NGOs who come here and have a lot of work they are doing where our skilled children can get involved. Put it as a condition that if you’re starting any project here, you have to employ our people who have been trained by the presidential skilling hub. Why should they buy things from other areas or bring people from Kampala to do the work that our graduates can do?” she wondered.
The Napak District LCV Chairperson, Mr. John Paul Kodet revealed that when they started the program, the turn up was too low because majority of the would-be beneficiaries feared to join the program due to the insecurity in the area.
He said following the efforts of the UPDF, the region was pacified, and peace was registered thus registering a good number of beneficiaries in the second and third intakes.
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“That is the reason we were able to register 204 students in the second intake and 219 in the third intake. We are progressively moving forward. I want to thank the UPDF 3rd Division Commander, Maj Gen. Don Nabasa for bringing peace and sanity in the sub region that has enabled the students to acquire the skills uninterrupted,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Nabasa thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his guidance and wisdom that enabled him to initiate the skilling program aimed at transforming the youth.
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“Majority of these beneficiaries had lost hope and dropped out of school. Some of them were potential warriors and were about to join the other work so that they are able to make some living. But after being here, they are very changed people and I attribute this to the wonderful initiative that our Commander In Chief has put in place and being supervised by the State House Comptroller and her team,” he said.
The Director of the Directorate of Industrial Training, Mr. Patrick Byakatonda assured the graduates that their certificates are highly recognized, and they are equivalent to Senior Four certificates.
“The qualification which you have got is a highly recognized Qualification,” he said.
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The hub manager, Charles Lotiang thanked the State House Comptroller and her team for providing all the necessary requirements needed to run the day-to-day operations of the hub.
He went on to request the government to put up a special fund program that could provide start-up capital for the graduates.
Testimonies
Several graduates who are currently working thanked President Museveni through their testimonials for providing them with the knowledge that has allowed them to support themselves.
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Francis Losike, a native of Nabilatuk, said he had only spent two days at home after learning building and construction techniques and received an invitation for a job at a certain Moroto construction company, where he had applied.
“I thank H.E the President for giving us this opportunity to be here,” he added.
Rebecca Abu from Kotido Municipality said the hair dressing and make up course has changed her life since.
“When I came here, I did not know anything but after the course, I started plaiting my friends’ hair at home. Some lady got interested in my work and employed me in her big saloon. Now, I’m happy that I earn some money to support myself and my parents as well,” Abu said.
Thomas Okot Ariong an orphan from Kotido acquired skills in carpentry and joinery.
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“When I came here, I had no hope, but I managed to acquire some skills. I really thank the government for this initiative. I am an orphan but because of the skills I got, I’m able to pay school fees for my sister. God bless President Museveni,” Okot noted.
The ceremony was also attended by parents and various leaders from Karamoja including; LC5 Chairpersons, Security officers, and Youth leaders.