The State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye has implored beneficiaries of the Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs to be a testimony to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s wealth creation vision.

According to Ms. Barekye, President Museveni has been coming up with various initiatives aimed at fighting youth unemployment and one of them is skilling.

Through the 19 Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs spread across the country, youth irrespective of their education backgrounds, are trained in various vocational skills for six months free of charge. But, after skilling, they face a challenge of no start-up capital to put their skills into good practice. This prompted President Museveni to extend a financial support of Shs8.8 billion to SACCOs under the Skilling hubs. Each SACCO received a total of Shs50 million.

The initiative has transformed the lives of thousands of youth around the country.

“You should be a testimony to the President’s vision of wealth creation,” she said.

The State House Comptroller made the remarks today while leading a training session on proper fund management to SACCO members and leaders, commercial officers and district leaders at

Bunyoro Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Masindi district.

Ms. Barekye called upon the SACCO leaders to safeguard and manage the SACCO funds well so that they serve the intended purpose.

“When the President was here in Masindi, he promised to equip you with skills after that he gets you capital to get your families out of poverty,” she said.

She further advised the beneficiaries to use the funds productively by starting up businesses so that they fight poverty and transform their livelihoods.

“Change your lives, work hard so that you can help your families and be testimonies of tomorrow,” Ms. Barekye said, urging leaders to be patriotic and disciplined so that they execute their mandate effectively.

“We are going to give you guidelines and continue sensitizing you,” she noted.

On his part, the Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha emphasised that the SACCO funds are only meant to be used to enhance the skills acquired from the skilling hubs, and beneficiaries should not invest it into other ventures like agriculture.

“Don’t use this money for agriculture or any other business, use it for only the skills you got from here,” he urged.

He also encouraged the trainees to have business plans before getting the loans, noting that it will help them to invest well.

Eng. Kamugisha further explained about the value-addition component which is among the four components of the Presidential Industrial Skilling hubs, which he said was designed to address challenges related to post-harvest handling and managing of agricultural produce in the regions especially maize for the case of Bunyoro.

One of the beneficiaries of the Bunyoro skilling hub, Kabakonjo Grace who acquired skills in tailoring revealed that she earns Shs500,000 a month and she is able to pay school fees for her children.

“Before coming to the hub, I didn't have any ideas but now I have a business and money. I thank President Museveni for this initiative,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Owobusobozi Patience, a former trainee at Bunyoro Industrial skilling hub is now a professional hair dresser and can make profits of Shs80,000 weekly.

“I thank President Museveni for this initiative, and I promise to boost my business after I have received the SACCO money,” she said.