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President Yoweri Museveni officially launched the Karamoja Zonal Presidential Industrial Hub in Napak District as part of a nationwide initiative to equip over 12,000 youths annually with vocational skills. The Hub offers training in areas such as shoemaking, carpentry, hairdressing, and masonry.

President Yoweri Museveni, Vice President Jessica Alupo and other officials at Karamoja Zonal hub.

President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday commissioned the Teso zonal presidential industrial hub one of 19 centres nationwide under the Presidential Initiative, which aims to equip over 12,000 youths every year.

The Hub, located in Abattoir Cell, Dartiacs Ward in Lokiteded Town Council, Napak District was opened as part of the President’s ongoing wealth creation tour in the Karamoja Subregion on assessment of government programs in the subregion.

Addressing the community at the Hub, President Museveni congratulated the beneficiaries of the skilling programme which has provided training for the youth in shoemaking, carpentry and joinery, building and concrete practice, hairdressing and tailoring among others.

President Museveni highlighted the facility’s role in empowering youth through vocational training in sectors like metalwork, masonry, and electronics and approved the proposal by the Hub managers to include new skills for expanded training.

President Museveni tours the Tailoring class and their works at Karamoja Zonal Hub on Wednesday afternoon

“I am delighted that the children have responded to our call, and the parents are supportive. Additionally, I propose we include more skills in this hub, such as motor mechanics, plumbing, weaving, and knitting,” he said.

The President further explained how the economic transformation of Karamoja began long ago with the NRA ensuring security for people and property, adding that today, Karamoja is progressing like the rest of Uganda.

“Here in Karamoja, you are getting factories for cement etc coming here, whose meat will they eat? They will have to eat your meat here. How about the milk? so we are also going to work on the issue of the diary, but all these are now possible because of peace,” Museveni remarked.

The President specifically noted that young people can use their skills to create shoes and construct houses and called for the establishment of a four-acre demonstration farm for extended farming skills on effective agricultural practices.

“This hub addresses the pressing issues of people lacking shoes and shelter. Young people can use their skills to create shoes and construct houses. Furthermore, I would like this specific hub to have a 4-acre farm to demonstrate the four-sector model and allow our youth to learn how to effectively utilize small land,” Museveni said.

President Museveni and Vice President Alupo tour the newly commissioned Karamoja Zonal Hub on Wednesday afternoon

The Vice President Rtd Maj Jessica Alupo in her remarks thanked the President for the visionary leadership and being a chief architect in all wealth creation programmes and initiatives such as the Presidential Zonal Industrial Hubs which have impacted skills to the beneficiary youths for wealth creation.

President Museveni and Vice President Alupo tour the newly commissioned Karamoja Zonal Hub on Wednesday afternoon

She also thanked the designers of the curriculums for the courses taught such as hairdressing, carpentry, construction, welding, and the like for the efforts put in to skill the youths and make them fit for the outside job market.

Coordinators from Office of the National Chairman – Kyambogo who attended the commissioning of the Karamoja Zonal Hub on Wednesday afternoon

The launch and official commissioning of the Karamoja Zonal Industrial Hub was also attended by the Minister for Karamoja, Hon Peter Lokeris, The state minister for Ethics and Integrity, Hon Rose Lilly Akello, Youth and Children Affairs Minister, Hon Dr Balaam Barugahare, the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, Members of Parliament, Religious and cultural leaders, among others.