The President was lauded by the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye on Tuesday 3rd January, 2023 during the passing out of 218 students who graduated at the Lango Zonal Industrial Hub situated in Ayere village, Barapwo parish, Lira City West Division in Lira City after completing an extensive six months vocational training in the different disciplines, free of charge.
Ms. Barekye thanked Gen Museveni for initiating Zonal Industrial Hubs across the country that have equipped the youth with skills, thus improving their livelihoods.
“I was scared at the beginning but now I have seen parents, guardians, well-wishers and the graduands jubilating after this positive achievement," she said.
The Comptroller also urged the beneficiaries to use the acquired skills to work so as they transform their families and Uganda as a whole.
"To the learners, the vision of the President was to ensure that they are equipped with skills and apply them somewhere to improve their livelihoods," Ms. Barekye noted, before imploring the graduands to ensure that the project is a success story.
The comptroller further said that the President will provide beneficiaries with a common user facility equipped with machines that will be used by everyone for free to manufacture goods which they will take to the market to sell and earn a living.
The youth who received Level I certificates from the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), were admitted in July 2022 for a six months skills development training on tailoring, carpentry, bakery, knitting, shoe making, hairdressing, welding, coffee processing, stone cutting, and maize processing.
Mr. Celestino Oceng, the Manager of the Lango Zonal Industrial Hub said they admitted 220 students, but only 218 managed to finish the training, after two ladies dropped out due to one being ill and another one joining the Uganda Police Force.
He also informed the State House Comptroller that the beneficiaries are now well equipped with all the necessary skills and that they are ready to transform Lango sub region and Uganda at large, both socially and economically.
“I would like to thank H.E the President for his great wisdom of skilling the youth which is the best way of bringing them into the money economy,” Mr. Oceng asserted.
The Northern Uganda Youth Member of Parliament, Hon. Okot Boniface also commended President Museveni for imparting knowledge to the youth through trainings at the Zonal Industrial Hubs spread across the country.
The legislator further requested the President to integrate these programs into government development programs like Emyooga, Parish Development Model among others and also provide working tools to the graduates so that they start working immediately after graduating.
In 2020, the President implored Government to allocate sh130bn for the construction of 21 zonal industrial hubs across the country to enhance youth skilling and training.
The zonal industrial hubs seek to scale down unemployment rates, especially among the youth and stimulate industrial production in the country.
The graduation ceremony was also attended by Members of Parliament namely; Hon. Judith Alyek, Member of Parliament for Kole district also the chairperson Lango Parliamentary Group, Hon. Olobo James, the Member of Parliament for Kyoga North, the Lango Cultural leaders such; Highness Won Nyaci Lango Apap Yosam Odur Ebii, Prime Minister Eng. James Robert Ajal, 1st Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Levi Okodi Maapio, Second Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Joe Olang Erik, Mr. Michael Okumu, the deputy director-in-charge of assessment and certification at DIT, among other invited guests.