Big Push! State House Allocates UGX 100 Million to Support Zombo Youth Skilling Beneficiaries

By Mike Rwothomio

Over 80 young people trained under the Presidential Skilling Hub in Zombo District are set to benefit from a UGX 100 million allocation from State House.

The funds, released through the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Youth, aim to support the graduates’ SACCO, providing critical financial backing for entrepreneurial start-ups and small-scale enterprises.

The initiative, which targets unemployed youth across Uganda, has been instrumental in offering free vocational training and job-relevant skills.

In Zombo, the investment marks a milestone in efforts to empower beneficiaries from across the West Nile region, particularly those who completed training at the Zombo hub located in Aka Sub-county.

Amos Jacan, the District Youth Chairperson, welcomed the development, describing the funding as a much-needed lifeline for the newly skilled youth.

He confirmed that the group had successfully formed a SACCO to manage and utilize the funds, noting that the money will be given out in form of soft loans to enable members start income-generating ventures.

“We lobbied for this from the government, and now that it has come, I urge all beneficiaries to take it seriously. This is an opportunity to change your lives through entrepreneurship and hard work,” Jacan said in an interview.

The financial boost comes shortly after President Yoweri Museveni issued a directive calling for the expansion of skilling hubs across the country.

The plan includes upgrading facilities to accommodate up to 500 learners per hub, and expanding training in trades like motor mechanics, plumbing, electrical installation, and tailoring to meet rising demand.

Godfrey Longa, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, reiterated the President’s call during a recent youth engagement in Maracha District.

He said the President has instructed youth in all districts to form associations and register SACCOs in order to benefit from similar government funding packages.

The Zombo Skilling Hub, which serves more than 10 districts in the West Nile sub-region, has graduated over 600 students since 2023.

It provides hands-on training in various trades, including carpentry, mechanics, and hairdressing. Each year, the centre enrolls and equips more than 200 young people with practical skills aimed at promoting self-reliance and job creation.

Ora County MP, Songa Biyika Lawrence, hailed the initiative as a game-changer in the fight against youth unemployment, which remains a major national challenge.

He said the provision of hands-on skills is helping young people become job creators rather than job seekers, especially in rural areas.

Speaking during the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the Pagisi–Namthin road, Zombo Resident District Commissioner Festus Ayikobua echoed the call for youth to actively embrace government programmes.

He said youth involvement in initiatives like the skilling hubs would go a long way in reducing poverty and dependency in the region.

Currently, 19 Presidential Industrial Hubs across Uganda are training more than 12,000 youth every year in disciplines such as welding, tailoring, construction, bakery, and agriculture. Most of these programmes require minimal entry qualifications, often limited to a national ID and a recommendation from a local leader.

Under the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl/Boy Child, learners are provided free meals and accommodation during training.

After six months, they sit for assessments conducted by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and receive nationally recognized certificates that enhance their employability.

The initiative, launched in April 2017 with an inaugural cohort of 850 students, has since empowered thousands with market-ready skills.

President Museveni recently inaugurated a similar hub in Kasese, reaffirming the NRM government’s commitment to tackling poverty through skills development and youth empowerment.

For the graduates in Zombo, the UGX 100 million injection is not just financial support—it is a signal of renewed hope and a foundation upon which they can build a more secure and independent future.