Presidential Industrial Hubs Skilling Uganda’s Youths for Sustainable Livelihoods
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has established several industrial hubs aimed at skilling the youth and providing them with opportunities to gain hands-on experience and develop practical skills. These hubs are designed to provide technical and vocational training to young people, equipping them with the necessary skills for the job market.
The Industrial Hubs skilling program has been embraced by many and more youth have been encouraged to take part in it. It is free of charge, students don’t pay fees, four meals are provided within a day because the Government of Uganda has catered for the welfare. The duration of the courses is five months.
The skilling hubs offer welding, shoe making, tailoring, hairdressing, block making, stone cutting, baking, plumbing electronics, and farm management. etc. They are skilling the youth hands-on practices that they can use in their respective areas & earn something for themselves. Zonal Industrial Hubs is one of the best ways of bringing the youth into money economy hence socio-economic transformation of regions and the whole nation.
So far, 20 Regional Industrial Hubs are operational in Kayunga, Mubende, Masaka, Ankole, Kabale, Kasese, Ntoroko, Kyenjojo, Masindi, Zombo, Adjumani, Gulu, soroti, Lira, Napak, Kwen, Mbale, Kibuku, Jinja and Tooro.
Leaders in different subregions have highly commended President Yoweri Museveni for his initiative to establish Zonal Industrial Hubs because they have played a significant role in skilling the youth and equipping them with the necessary skills for employment and self-employment. They have contributed to the reduction of youth unemployment and poverty in Uganda by providing young people with practical skills that are in high demand in the job market.