“The real liberation is in skills,” President Museveni says at launch of Ntoroko Skilling Hub
“The knowledge and confidence I gained through this initiative have allowed me to run my own business,” she shared.
Ntoroko: In a landmark event in Ntoroko District, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially launched the Presidential Zonal Industrial Hub, signaling a transformative approach to Uganda’s development through skills training, technology, and practical education.
The initiative is designed to offer free vocational training to young Ugandans, particularly those from poor and marginalized communities.
It is part of the government’s broader strategy to combat rural poverty and youth unemployment by equipping young people with income-generating skills.
Addressing the gathering, President Museveni emphasized that Uganda’s true liberation lies not only in political independence but also in the empowerment of citizens through skills.
“The real liberation is in skills. Wealth comes from people, and skilling hubs are designed to create that wealth,” he stated.
Reflecting on Africa’s colonial history, Museveni noted that the continent’s defeat stemmed not from a lack of culture or leadership, but from the absence of technological and practical knowledge.
“During colonial times, we had kings, poets, witch doctors, and priests, but we lacked technology. That’s why the Europeans succeeded in dominating us,” he explained.
The Ntoroko Skilling Hub is part of a wider national network providing free training, accommodation, meals, and medical care. It aims to produce job creators, not just job seekers.
President Museveni also revisited earlier educational reforms Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), acknowledging that while they had noble goals, some local leaders undermined them by introducing illegal fees.
He called on religious institutions and local authorities to reflect and correct past mistakes that deprived many poor children of education, urging renewed commitment to equitable access.
The initiative received widespread praise, including from Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who called the hubs a “game-changer” in addressing youth unemployment and bridging the gap left by earlier reforms.
“After UPE and USE, this is the missing link. This program now equips our youth to become job creators instead of job seekers,” said Tayebwa, pledging continued parliamentary support to protect and expand the program.
Mr. William Kasozi, Chairperson of the Ntoroko Skilling Hub, highlighted the program’s immediate impact. The hub has already enrolled 897 learners 378 girls and 519 boys from Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, and Fort Portal City.
To ensure sustainability, Kasozi announced the launch of a Skilling Hub SACCO, allowing graduates to access savings and credit services for business development.
The hub is also expanding to meet rising demand. Instructor numbers will increase from 240 to 400, and new courses including weaving, plumbing, automobile mechanics, and electrical installation will be introduced. Kasozi noted the significance of electrical training in a district where electrification stands at only 8%.
Robinah Byamukama, a tailoring graduate from Bundibugyo, used a Shs 200,000 reward to buy a sewing machine. She now supplies school uniforms, owns two machines, and is building rental houses.
“Thank you so much, President Museveni, for this program. May you live forever,” she said emotionally.
Moses Mutegeki, trained in construction, has built homes, joined an NGO to train fellow youth, and co-founded a construction company. He and his group secured Shs 8 million from the Youth Livelihood Programme to launch a salon and paving business.
“If this hub had come ten years ago, I’d be much further in life,” he said, “but even now, I’ve achieved a lot.”
Christine Sanyu, a hairdressing trainee, started her salon with just Shs 2,000. Today, she runs a successful business that employs others.
“The knowledge and confidence I gained through this initiative have allowed me to run my own business,” she shared.
Concluding his address, President Museveni urged all Ugandans to embrace the opportunity these hubs present and take part in building a more prosperous, self-reliant nation.
“Let us move from subsistence to income. Let us liberate ourselves through skills,” he said.
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