By Eye Media Ug | Gulu | August 1, 2026
State House has warned of a tough crackdown on officials extorting vulnerable youth seeking admission to the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, while accusing some politicians of misleading the public over the State House budget by ignoring the wide range of national programmes it finances.
The warning was issued by the Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, during a stakeholders’ engagement and handover ceremony for the Acholi Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Board in Gulu District on Thursday 30th July 2026
Kamugisha said admission into the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs is entirely free and cautioned that anyone demanding money for application forms, admission or any other service would be treated as a criminal.
“This is State House, the President’s home. Do not dare steal from us. The programme is free of charge. Anyone asking for money from vulnerable Ugandans is a criminal, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit is on standby to deal with such individuals,” Kamugisha said.
He urged trainees to report any official demanding money, saying the government would not tolerate corruption in a programme established by President Yoweri Museveni to empower disadvantaged youth through free vocational training.
“This is Kisanja No Sleep, No Corruption. Leaders entrusted with implementing this programme must serve diligently because these are children from vulnerable families. Anyone found frustrating the President’s initiative through corruption will face the law,” he warned.
Kamugisha also cautioned local leaders against encouraging learners to abandon formal education in favour of the skilling hubs, saying the initiative was specifically designed for vulnerable youth who had missed the opportunity to pursue formal schooling.
Turning to the State House budget, Kamugisha criticised former Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, accusing him of giving the public a misleading impression of how funds allocated to State House are utilised.
He explained that expenditure under State House supports several government programmes and institutions beyond the statehouse headquarters , including the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs across the country.
“The budget caters for many activities under the Presidency. Leaders should explain these achievements to the public so that people are not misled by those who distort facts,” he said.
Kamugisha further announced that Government will establish a value-addition facility at the Acholi hub comprising a maize milling plant and an animal feeds processing factory expected to be operational within four months.
He also appealed to Gulu City authorities to allocate at least five acres of land for the construction of a Common User Facility that will include production space, a showroom, storage facilities, parking and accommodation facilities.
Calling for inclusive leadership, Kamugisha urged the newly elected Gulu District LCV chairperson, Justin Obol of the Democratic Party, to work closely with State House as the incoming chairperson of the Acholi Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Board.
“State House does not discriminate on the basis of political parties. Whoever is ready to serve the country is welcome to work with us,” he said.
He also directed district leaders across the Acholi sub-region to nominate representatives to zonal committees within one month to strengthen governance at the hub.
Earlier, the outgoing board chairperson, Christopher Opiyo Ateker, thanked President Museveni for acquiring the 65-acre site through the Office of the State House Comptroller, saying it now accommodates the skilling centre, a four-acre model farm and other facilities that are transforming the lives of vulnerable youth.
Ateker appealed to Government to increase enrolment from the current 25 trainees to at least 50 per intake to meet the growing demand for vocational skills among young people in the region.
The former Gulu District LCV chairperson further cited the lack of transport as one of the hub’s biggest challenges, particularly during emergencies, and appealed to State House to provide the institution with a vehicle.
The Acholi Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub serves trainees from Gulu District, Gulu City, Kitgum District, Kitgum Municipality, Agago, Pader, Amuru, Omoro, Lamwo and Nwoya.
Pader District Woman MP CD Lowila Oketayot appealed to President Museveni not to establish another skilling hub in Acholi but instead strengthen the existing facility by introducing more vocational courses and increasing enrolment.
She also pledged to support graduates from Pader District in accessing employment opportunities after completing their training.
Pader District LCV chairperson Alfred Akena praised the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs programme for equipping young people with practical skills and urged graduates who access start-up capital through the hub SACCOs to invest the funds productively rather than repeating mistakes witnessed under previous government programmes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme.
The function concluded with the official handover of the Acholi Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Board leadership from Christopher Opiyo Ateker to the newly elected Gulu District LCV chairperson, Justin Obol, who pledged to work with State House to expand opportunities for vulnerable youth across the Acholi sub-region.
