Uganda’s Vice President HE Maj (Rtd)Jessica Alupo has commissioned the Sam Owori Skilling Hub in Tororo district, a facility designed to equip youth with vocational skills and empower them to become self-reliant.
Speaking on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni currently in the political trenches looking for votes, Jessica Alupo emphasized the importance of economic specialization, noting that every adult Ugandan should have a sustainable source of income.
In an address, the VP appealed to every household to select a money-making enterprise in the four sectors of commercial agriculture, industries, services and ICT in order to eliminate poverty and unemployment across the country.
She says the move, is not a new phenomenon as it dates back during the days of our ancestors. “Before colonialism, our ancestors had developed a system of a highly productive society, by encouraging every member of society to belong to at least one of the emyooga – specializations.
For instance, they had Abaheesi (black smiths), Ababaizi (carpenters), Abanogoozi (clay workers), Abakomagyi (bark cloth-makers), Abatanagyi (bows and arrow workers),” the vice president said.
The skilling hub, constructed in memory of late Rotary International President-Elect Sam Owori, is a result of partnerships between the government and development partners, including the Rotary Club of Innsbruck Alpin in Austria, Habitat for Humanity Uganda, and the PERI Group.
The facility will train youth in various skills, including shoe-making, textile production, furniture making, and electronics assembly.
“…the focus of the skilling hubs is to transform the youth force from a liability to an asset,” Alupo said, adding, “…hence, our economy of four sectors ─ commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT ─ will absorb and render useful all our active population, to produce goods and services for import substitution and export promotion, now that we have enough electricity, good roads, peace.”
Clad in African style yellow fabric, Alupo noted that the government is prioritizing industrialization to reduce reliance on imports and promote local production.
“…when we import these items, we donate both money and jobs to foreigners leaving our own children unemployed,” she said. “More industries in Uganda means more jobs for the population and taxes to the government to carry out development projects.” On behalf of the government, Alupo thanked partners for their contribution towards the establishment of Sam Owori skilling hub, saying the project is a transformative initiative that aligns with the government’s efforts to trigger the socio-economic transformation of Uganda.
They included; Rotary Club of Innsbruck Alpin in Austria, the Rotary Club of Kampala, Rotary Districts 1920 and 9213, the Rotary Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Uganda, Start Somewhere, the PERI Group, PACODEF, Tororo Youth Initiative for Professional Development, Build Me; and Zefania and Mary Ochieng Trust, who donated the land for the establishment of the hub.
The Vice President commended the Rotary Clubs for collaborating with the NRM government, to extend social services to our people, in the areas of health, education among others.
Alupo further said vocational training is an integral part of the NRM’s agenda to transform the human resources in Uganda.
She said the Presidential Skilling Hubs have been training the youths in shoe-making, knitting sweaters, cloth-weaving, furniture making, fruit and food processing, cutting stones for construction, jewelry making, making paper from banana fibers, making strong textile from bark-cloth, leather-tanning, processing herbal medicine from the indigenous herbs, assembling and manufacturing electronic gadgets, making electrical transformers.
The Vice President also used the occasion to commend the people of Tororo for promoting unity and peaceful co-existence among the Iteso and Jopadhola communities.
She also lauded the Kwar Adhola Cultural Institution for its commitment to working with government to drive socioeconomic transformation across Padhola.
The Kwar Adhola HRH Stephen Moses Owor, who also graced the ceremony expressed gratitude to the government and development partners for their contribution towards the construction and equipping of the Sam Owori skilling hub.
“…This facility will go a long way in training the youth in vocational skills as the chiefdom strives to fight unemployment among the youth…,” he said.
The MP for Tororo Municipality, Hon Apollo Yeri, described the facility as a fundamental gain that must be jealously protected, noting its immense contribution to skills development.
Dr. Tanga Odoi, the Chairperson NRM Electoral Commission, lauded the Vice President Jessica Alupo for her outstanding contribution towards the development of Tororo district.
The commissioning of the Sam Owori Skilling Hub is a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to promote socio-economic transformation and reduce poverty in Uganda.
As Uganda continues to invest in infrastructure development and industrialization, initiatives like the skilling hub will play a critical role in equipping youth with the skills and knowledge needed to secure employment or start their own businesses.
