State House is preparing to establish a second Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Karamoja to expand vocational opportunities for unemployed youth across the sub-region.
State House Comptroller Ms. Jane Barekye announced the expansion plans on Tuesday during a progress assessment visit to the Karamoja Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Napak District.
The existing Napak hub currently trains over 240 young adults across various technical disciplines. Trainees include 27-year-old Denis Opio, a disabled youth from Abim District who mastered leather tanning and shoe production despite having no prior formal education.
Ms. Barekye appointed Mr. Lorot John Bosco Kapel as the Regional SACCO Manager to safeguard financial support given to graduates. Mr. Kapel will oversee the Shs50 million revolving fund allocated by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to each graduate SACCO across the nine districts.
"This officer is a field person," Ms. Barekye said. "He will constantly move across the districts supervising our SACCOs because we want this money to work. We do not want the President’s money to disappear."
Ms. Barekye cautioned district authorities against forced recruitment into the program, insisting that enrollment must remain voluntary.
"Stop abducting people to come for training," Ms. Barekye stated. "Let them join willingly after understanding the opportunities available. Selection must follow the established guidelines."
She also appealed to local governments to prioritize hub graduates when awarding public tenders for furniture, school uniforms, and construction work.
Regional leaders, led by Kotido Municipality Mayor Mr. Peter Abrahams, requested that the government locate the second facility in Kotido District. Local authorities in Kotido have already earmarked 70 acres of land to construct the new northern Karamoja facility.
Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs Eng. Raymond Kamugisha confirmed that preparations for the new hub will begin in the upcoming financial year.
"This is Kisanja No Sleep and No Corruption," Eng. Kamugisha said. "We want every stakeholder involved so that the programme achieves its intended purpose. We are also monitoring how the Shs50 million SACCO funds are being utilised because they must improve the livelihoods of our graduates."