Skills training programme sparks hope among youth in Kigorobya

By George Niyonzima

Youth in Kigorobya Sub-county, Hoima District, have welcomed the launch of a free non-formal skills training programme at the Kigorobya Skilling Centre, describing it as a life-changing opportunity.

The programme, which will be conducted at the Kigorobya Skilling Centre in Kigorobya Town Council, is expected to benefit young people from Hoima District and the wider Albertine region.

It aims to equip unemployed and disadvantaged youth with practical vocational skills that will enable them to earn sustainable livelihoods and improve their standards of living.

The area Member of Parliament for Kigorobya County, Gerald Kasigwa, who initiated the programme, said trainees will undergo six months of hands-on training in various vocational fields, including domestic electrical installation, welding and metal fabrication, carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, tailoring, fashion and design, crafts, and other technical skills.

Kasigwa said he introduced the initiative after realizing that many young people in Kigorobya were unemployed and had missed out on formal education, leaving them without the skills needed to secure meaningful employment.

One of the beneficiaries, Irumba Godfrey, a trainee in motor vehicle mechanics, expressed optimism that the training will equip him with practical skills to start earning a living and become self-reliant after completing the course.

Other beneficiaries, including Catherine Mbabazi, Hilda Kabagenyi, and Byenkya Kyalisuga, said they had spent a long time without employment opportunities but are confident that the training will enable them to support themselves and improve the welfare of their families.

Parents from Kigorobya Sub-county also commended the area Member of Parliament, Gerald Kasigwa, for investing in the future of young people through skills development. They said the initiative will help reduce unemployment and improve household incomes in the area.