I want you to be a new force of wealth creators, Museveni tells youths in Acholi

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has this week set camp in Acholi sub-region, boots on the ground, with a clarion call to the people of the region to forget about sleeping (Nino in acholi) but wake up to respond to his wealth creation gospel if the area is to jump out among the top poorest in Uganda.

According to the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index 2022 report, Acholi sub-region has the second highest number of poor people in the country with 63.3 percent of its people living below the poverty line.

President Museveni however expressed optimism in the new force of youth that have been skilled under his initiative of the zonal industrial hubs across the country whom he said will be supported financially to create wealth and fight poverty.

Commissioning the Acholi Zonal Industrial Hub, located in Oding Parish, Unyama sub-county, Gulu city on Thursday 23rd February 2023, the President directed the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye to strictly record down details of the youths who graduate from the Industrial Hubs to ensure that they are followed up in their respective districts so that government can support them with start-up capital.

The State House Zonal Industrial Hubs were initiated by President Museveni to minimize high unemployment levels among the youths by equipping them with various hands-on skills. The initiative which has 22 hubs spread across the country, is supervised by Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, the Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial hubs.

“Because I want you to be a new force of people who don’t buy things from outside. By making the chairs, shoes, and clothes from here, you will not only help us to stop importing things like furniture from China, India, and Dubai but also provide employment to colleagues that have been skilled,” H.E Museveni said.

“Everybody who graduates from here should be recorded and then followed up in their districts so that we see how to support them with capital. But my advice is that some of the businesses are better done if you form groups like carpentry and processing small factories. Form associations district by district and we support you in groups because supporting you one by one may be difficult,” H.E Museveni said, adding that those with tailoring skills can each be provided with a sewing machine from the government.

The Acholi Industrial hub offers certificates from the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) after five (5) months of free training in hairdressing, carpentry and joinery, welding, and metal fabrication as well as tailoring.

A total of 212 graduates last month formed the first cohort of 22 youths each selected from the districts of Omoro, Nwoya, Amuru, Gulu, Agago, Pader, Agago, Lamwo, Kitgum, and Gulu city.

According to the President, the initiative fits well in the four (4) sectors of wealth creation that he has been preaching about since 1986 which include; commercial agriculture, industry/manufacturing, services, and ICT.

“And this is where your skills come in. when I built these centers for children, I wanted you to get skills and go back to start your own small factory or do it as a group or be employed to work in somebody’s factory,” Gen Museveni said, giving an example of a group of youth who came together and started a carpentry business.

Gen Museveni told parents and students at the skilling hub to stop confusing development and wealth creation, saying the latter is more important because it helps to solve the immediate needs of an individual in their home.