Zombo youth equipped with marketable vocational skills

Zombo: A cohort of 40 youths successfully completed a six-month intensive vocational training program, marking a major milestone in efforts to reduce unemployment and promote self-reliance among young people in Zombo District.

The initiative, implemented by the Zombo Rural Development Network Association (ZORUDENA), a community-based organization dedicated to building a prosperous Zombo where every child is nurtured, every woman empowered, and every family given equitable opportunities to thrive — culminated in a colorful graduation ceremony at Alfa Guest House, Alangi Trading Centre.

The event attracted hundreds of residents who witnessed a parade of graduates dressed in professional regalia, marching confidently through the streets of Alangi Trading Centre. The procession served as a public demonstration of the value of acquiring employable skills in a region grappling with high youth unemployment.

Training took place at the Alangi Youth Skilling Centre under a cost-sharing arrangement, focusing on high-demand disciplines including Tailoring and Garment Cutting, and Hairdressing and Cosmetology.

John Wilembe, the Executive Director of ZORUDENA, commended the graduates for their dedication and announced that the organization would continue supporting them after the training.

“We will conduct follow-up monitoring and provide complimentary startup toolkits for salons, catering enterprises, and tailoring workshops,” he said.

Wilembe reaffirmed ZORUDENA’s commitment to combating youth unemployment through targeted skilling and empowerment programs. With Zombo District’s population exceeding 300,000 (2024 Census) and a youth illiteracy rate estimated at 65%, he said vocational training is a key strategy for improving employability, promoting self-reliance, and enhancing household income.

“We are dedicated to building youth independence by addressing multiple socio-economic barriers through skill enhancement, resource access, and market linkages,” Wilembe added.

He noted that ZORUDENA’s broader goals include strengthening economic resilience among women and youth, improving access to resources and markets, and promoting community health through preventive education, healthcare services, and sanitation programs.

Bruno Mananu, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Zombo, congratulated the trainees and encouraged them to apply their new skills toward improving livelihoods.

“Deploy these skills toward value-added production to combat household poverty and accelerate transition into the formal money economy,” he said.

Grace Oleru, Vice Chairperson of the Zombo District Local Council V, representing the LC5 Chairperson, lauded the trainees for their commitment and discipline. She urged parents to support the graduates by helping them acquire operational tools to start income-generating ventures.

ZORUDENA’s skilling program aligns with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s National Skilling Agenda, launched in 2017 through the Presidential Skilling Hubs. The initiative has since empowered thousands of young Ugandans to create jobs and become self-reliant.

Graduates expressed optimism about the program’s potential to transform their economic prospects and promote financial inclusion.

Originally operating in Paidha Town Council and Paidha Sub-county, ZORUDENA has expanded to hard-to-reach areas like Alangi, aiming to decentralize access to skills development opportunities.

Founded in 2019, the organization has so far empowered over 100 children, supported more than 500 families, and positively impacted over 12,000 lives.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), national youth unemployment stood at 17% in 2021, and ZORUDENA’s practical, community-driven model demonstrates a scalable approach to reducing this figure through sustainable, employment-oriented training.

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