By Eye Ug | Zombo | July 30, 2026
State House has cautioned district leaders in the West Nile sub-region against frustrating the implementation of President Yoweri Museveni’s Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs Programme, warning that leaders who fail to support the initiative risk being held accountable.
The warning was delivered by the Director of Presidential Projects and Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs at State House, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, and the Special Presidential Assistant in Charge of Political Affairs and National Coordinator for Presidential Hubs in Eastern and Northern Uganda, Godfrey Longa, during a meeting with district hub committees, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), district chairpersons, NRM leaders and technical officers at the West Nile Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Zombo District.
The engagement brought together leaders from Arua City, Arua District, Terego, Maracha, Yumbe, Koboko, Koboko Municipality, Zombo, Nebbi District, Nebbi Municipality, Pakwach and Madi-Okollo to assess the progress of the presidential initiative and discuss strategies for improving its implementation.
Addressing the meeting, Longa criticized some district hub committees for being inactive, saying leaders entrusted with the programme should focus on finding solutions instead of complaining.
“When you are a leader, you are a problem solver. Don’t become a lamenter of problems. We may not be paying you, but you have a patriotic duty to serve our people and support a programme that is changing the lives of our youth,” Longa said.
He reminded district leaders of their respective responsibilities, noting that district chairpersons must ensure implementation of the NRM manifesto, RDCs should guarantee security, NRM chairpersons should monitor programme implementation, while technical officers must continue guiding graduates after completing training.
Longa also faulted some leaders for demanding transport allowances before attending meetings and criticized suggestions that physical engagements be replaced by virtual meetings.
“Some of you were invited here but first asked about transport. Others suggested a Zoom meeting. Such leaders require mindset change because leadership is about solving problems, not creating excuses,” he said.
He warned that government would not tolerate negligence that undermines a presidential programme.
“Those who think they will fail this programme will be dealt with because when the President starts something, it must succeed,” he added.
Longa commended district commercial officers for organizing graduates into SACCOs, saying the initiative had enabled hundreds of young people to access start-up capital.
He revealed that 40 graduates in Koboko and another 40 in Yumbe had already received SACCO loans, alongside 33 in Maracha, 30 in Arua City, 25 in Koboko Municipality, 24 in Arua District, 23 in Zombo, 21 in Nebbi Municipality, 19 in Pakwach and 15 in Terego.
However, he observed that many graduates were yet to benefit because they lacked National Identity Cards, blaming some district officials for neglecting young people seeking assistance.
“The money is limited compared to the demand. Those who have received it should invest wisely and repay on time so others can also benefit,” Longa advised.
Representing the State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye, Eng. Kamugisha challenged leaders to put into practice the wealth creation message consistently championed by President Museveni.
He questioned RDCs, agricultural officers, district chairpersons and NRM leaders on how many had established coffee plantations despite repeatedly listening to the President’s message on commercial agriculture.
“We always move with the President, we listen to him and clap after every speech. But how many of us have implemented what he teaches? West Nile has fertile soils suitable for coffee and matooke production, yet many leaders are not setting an example,” Kamugisha said.
Kamugisha also introduced Vita Abdul as the new State House Finance Officer responsible for overseeing more than Shs600 million already injected into Presidential Industrial Hub SACCOs across West Nile.
He urged district leaders to provide office space for SACCO leadership, assuring them that State House would furnish the offices with computers and other necessary equipment.
In a major boost to the programme, Kamugisha announced that President Museveni had directed the establishment of a second Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in the West Nile sub-region.
He said the new facility would be constructed in Maracha District if land is made available, failing which it would be relocated to Arua District.
Once completed, the new hub will serve Maracha, Koboko, Koboko Municipality, Yumbe, Terego, Arua City and Arua District, while the existing Zombo hub will continue serving Nebbi District, Nebbi Municipality, Pakwach, Zombo and Madi-Okollo.
Kamugisha also noted that although the current intake targeted 240 trainees, only 236 enrolled.
“It is unfortunate that four young people missed this opportunity despite all the resources being available,” he said.
The meeting also heard inspiring testimonies from graduates whose lives have been transformed through the programme.
Former trainee Sharon Giramia received Shs705,000 from the Presidential Industrial Hub SACCO, enabling her to establish a salon and boutique. She now employs two people while training two others in hairdressing.
Another beneficiary, Shamsa Jafar, 23, from Pajulu Cell in Ayivu Division, Arua City, invested Shs560,000 in a sewing machine and raw materials for making bags that she now sells to customers in the Democratic Republic of Congo through social media.
Jafar, who dropped out of school in Senior Four, said the programme restored her hope after unsuccessful attempts to secure further education opportunities.
“I looked for scholarships but some people wanted to exploit me sexually. The Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub gave me free training and changed my life,” she said.
West Nile Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Chairperson and Zombo District LCV Chairperson James Oruna Oyullu praised the initiative for transforming thousands of young people through vocational skills training and mindset change.
He urged beneficiaries to utilize SACCO funds responsibly, noting that many successful businesses started as small enterprises.
“The successful business people you admire today started small. Believe in yourselves, work hard and grow your businesses,” Oyullu said.
