The State House has urged leaders of the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub SACCOs to embrace discipline, planning, and teamwork in managing funds disbursed under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s youth empowerment initiative.
Speaking during a training session held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the Acholi Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Gulu City, State House Comptroller Jane Barekye advised beneficiaries to apply for loans only when they are ready to invest responsibly.
“First, have a plan for what you want to use the money for. Don’t just get it. With no plan, this money will not do what it’s intended for,” Barekye said, stressing that proper fund utilization would ensure the program’s sustainability.
The session brought together SACCO leaders, commercial officers, and district officials from Acholi, West Nile, and Lango sub-regions. It was part of the ongoing nationwide financial management training for SACCOs established under the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs.
Recently, President Museveni injected Shs8.8 billion into the SACCOs to support skilling hub graduates with start-up capital, with each SACCO receiving Shs50 million. Barekye said more support would be extended if the funds are well managed.
“If the funds are well utilised, President Museveni has promised to add more money in your SACCOs,” she affirmed.
She also urged parents to guide their children in making productive financial decisions. “My advice to the parents is that you encourage these children to use the money to enhance their skills. They shouldn’t divert the money to other unproductive things,” she said.
Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs, encouraged the trainees to work together to achieve bigger business goals.
“We shall start to get bigger loans if you work together and have big projects,” he noted, adding that collaboration and accountability would help the hubs grow stronger.
He further advised commercial officers to assist beneficiaries in registering companies to compete for local government tenders and contracts.
The session also featured facilitators from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and Post Bank Uganda, who guided participants on record-keeping, teamwork, and business growth strategies.
Joseph Lutalo from the Ministry of Trade and Abdallah Aziz Apat from Post Bank urged trainees to maintain communication and share ideas that could help their enterprises thrive.
The training also showcased inspiring success stories from graduates of the Acholi Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub who have transformed their lives through the program.
Jacqueline Ayubu, a former trainee in shoe-making, said she now owns a business earning her Shs50,000 daily. “Before joining the hub, I earned just Shs5,000 a day selling agricultural produce. This initiative changed my life,” she said, thanking President Museveni for supporting their SACCO.
Another beneficiary, Onek Peter, who trained in welding and metal fabrication, now runs a workshop in Layibi Centre and earns about Shs500,000 monthly. “Because of this hub, I now work and train other youth in welding,” he said.
Similarly, Mwaka Emmanuel Edgar, a tailoring graduate, runs a workshop in Kitgum Town with two employees and saves Shs600,000 monthly. “I thank President Museveni for this opportunity. It helped me acquire skills and earn a decent living,” he shared.
The training is part of a broader national effort to ensure that government-funded SACCOs under the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs are financially sustainable and effectively empower Uganda’s youth to become productive citizens.
