By Eye Media | Soroti | July 24, 2026
District leaders across the Teso sub-region have been warned against favouritism, corruption and enrolling ineligible applicants into the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub programme as State House moves to ensure the initiative benefits Uganda’s most vulnerable youth.
The warning was issued during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting at the Teso Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub by the Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs at State House, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, who represented the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye.
Kamugisha said the programme was established to fight household poverty through practical vocational skills and should not be hijacked by privileged individuals.
“Do not bring your own children or well-off relatives. This programme is intended to fight poverty and transform mindsets. We want the most vulnerable young people to benefit from these opportunities,” he said.
He reminded district leaders that only applicants aged 18 years and above qualify for admission and warned that corruption during the selection process would undermine the programme’s objectives.
Kamugisha also introduced Patrick Okadepap as the newly appointed Regional Finance Officer responsible for overseeing SACCOs established under the Teso Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub.
He said the recruitment of regional finance officers is intended to safeguard government funds disbursed to graduates and ensure beneficiaries use the money for its intended purpose.
“When we established these SACCOs, we decided to recruit finance managers because public money must be protected. Their role is to ensure beneficiaries use the funds for their intended purpose,” he said.
He further urged district local governments to provide office space for hub SACCOs to improve supervision and service delivery, adding that well-managed SACCOs will receive additional government funding.
“Those who think of swindling this money should not dare. Better-performing SACCOs will receive additional funding in future, so transparency and accountability are critical,” he warned.
Kamugisha also revealed that State House is preparing the next phase of the programme through the establishment of Common User Facilities (CUFs) and value-addition centres.
He said district leaders have been asked to identify at least six acres of land, preferably in urban centres, where the facilities will be constructed to enable graduates to undertake industrial production and value addition using shared equipment.
According to Kamugisha, the Uganda Investment Authority has already allocated land for the establishment of a Common User Facility and a four-acre model demonstration site for the Teso hub.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of Presidential Industrial Hubs for Eastern and Northern Uganda and Special Presidential Assistant in Charge of Political Affairs, Godfrey Longa, commended the people of Teso for embracing President Yoweri Museveni’s wealth creation agenda.
He urged leaders to protect the programme and continue mobilising vulnerable youth to benefit from the skilling initiative.
Leaders from across the region appealed to State House to increase the number of training slots allocated to Teso, saying demand for admission has far exceeded the current capacity.
Soroti City Resident City Commissioner John Michael Okurut described the hub as one of Uganda’s best vocational training centres, noting that public appreciation of the programme has grown significantly.
He appealed for an increase in the current allocation of about 20 trainees per district and Soroti City.
Former Minister of State for Teso Affairs, Hon. Christine Hellen Amongin Aporu, urged leaders to intensify community mobilisation and encouraged Resident District Commissioners to use radio programmes to sensitise the public about the opportunities available.
The meeting also heard testimonies from beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed through the programme.
Victor Apedo, who dropped out of Primary Six because of school fees, said she received Shs705,000 through the hub SACCO after graduation, enabling her to establish a salon that now supports her livelihood while she trains three young women free of charge.
Another graduate, Isaac Akora from Serere District, said he built a successful shoe-making business after receiving Shs998,000 through the SACCO, growing his business capital to about Shs2.5 million.
Current trainee Jude Omilogor said the programme restored his hope after he failed to continue with formal education.
The Head of the Bakery and Confectionery Department, Jane Aiso, said the initiative has transformed both trainees and instructors, with the Teso hub now employing more than 40 staff members.
The Manager of the Teso Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, Charles Lotiang, pledged continued collaboration with district leaders to advance President Museveni’s vision of empowering Ugandan youth through vocational skilling and wealth creation.
The Teso Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub serves beneficiaries from Amuria, Bukedea, Kaberamaido, Kalaki, Kapelebyong, Katakwi, Kumi, Kumi Municipality, Ngora, Serere, Soroti City and Soroti District, where leaders say demand for admission continues to outstrip the available training opportunities.
