Leaders of Kigezi subregion have highly commended President Yoweri Museveni for his initiative to establish Zonal Industrial Hubs in the country that will mitigate the challenge of unemployment among the youths and have more people join the money economy.

“This is a good program. We thank President Museveni for the project. It answers a lot of questions like the unemployment of the youths and will also help in adding value to our products,” the RDC Kabale district, Mr. Godfrey Nyakahuma, said.

Nyakahuma made the remarks while closing a meeting convened by the State House Comptroller, Madam Jane Barekye, at the administration offices of the Kigezi subregion Zonal Industrial Hub at Buranga Parish, Kamuganguzi Sub County, Ndorwa County in Kabale district.

The districts of the subregion include Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rubanda and Rukungiri.

Madam Barekye, on her part, informed the leaders of Kigezi  of the history and aim of the project that was a brain child of President Museveni, the activities to be run at the Hub, its benefits and what is required of them as leaders of the subregion to ensure the success of the program.

She stressed the need for leaders to popularise the program in their areas, to be transparent when selecting beneficiaries of the project and to strictly avoid corruption.

“As leaders, we don’t want to hear about corruption during the selection process. We don’t want this one. We are going to be very serious,” she warned.

She further advised them to set up a committee that will manage and oversee the activities of the Hub which can benchmark with other Hubs in other parts of the country to acquaint themselves on their performance.

Madam Barekye urged leaders to participate fully in the program that will be for their benefit both economically and politically.

The Director of Industrial Hubs and Presidential Projects at State House, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, appealed to leaders of Kigezi to embrace  the program and make the subregion become the model Industrial Hub in the country.

The Private Secretary In Charge of Political Affairs and the Youth at State House, Mr. Godfrey Longa, thanked the people in the subregion for supporting President Museveni and all NRM leaders during last year’s elections.

“The people of Kigezi region gave President Museveni their votes with all their hearts and were joined by many other parts of the country especially the North where for the first time NRM won,” he observed.

He, therefore, called on leaders of Kigezi to popularize the achievements of NRM like the infrastructure, ongoing activities and the planned ones.

Commenting on the Hub program, he told leaders that the project is a huge venture and urged all leaders to deeply get involved for its success.

The representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Julius Muhairwe, expressed optimism that the leadership of Kigezi will deliver the project. He also asked them to embrace the program as it is the first step towards achieving Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU).

He further called on them to change their  mind sets and start identifying areas they can generate money from in their districts.

The leaders assured the State House Comptroller of their commitment to make the project succeed for the benefit not only of the youths but also the entire population of the area and the country.

The Chairperson Kabale district, Mr. Shagabasheija expressed his delight for having the Hub for Kigezi subregion in Kabale  and urged his fellow  leaders in the sub region to work together as a team.

“I am so happy we are going to train our youths in Kabale, Kigezi and Uganda at large. We are going to move. Let us work as a team,” he advised.

The CAO Kabale district, Mr. Ntimba Edmond, told participants at the meeting the genesis of the location of the Hub and thanked the people of Kabale for their generosity in identifying the land that is now hosting the project.

“It shouldn’t be a white elephant. Utilise the Hub for the benefit of our people,” he counselled.

Earlier, the Manager of the Industrial Hub, Mr. Mwebasa Emmanuel, took leaders on a guided tour of the facilities at the Hub. 

ENDS.