By Eye Media Uganda | October 14, 2026

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the establishment of a Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Luweero District to expand vocational training opportunities for young people in Luweero, Nakasongola and Nakaseke districts.

The proposed facility is intended to equip young people with practical skills to create employment, establish businesses and improve their livelihoods amid growing concerns over youth unemployment.

The directive was announced by Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs at State House, who represented the State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye, during an engagement with Greater Luweero leaders at the Mengo Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Kayunga District.

Kamugisha called on leaders from the three districts to identify and secure suitable land for the proposed facility.

NEW TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

According to Kamugisha, the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs were established to address unemployment, limited access to formal education and the need to equip young people with practical skills for economic empowerment.

The hubs currently offer training in welding, carpentry and joinery, bakery, tailoring, hairdressing, shoemaking, and building and concrete practice.

He revealed that President Museveni had also directed the introduction of four additional courses: electrical installation, knitting and weaving, automotive mechanics, and plumbing.

The expanded curriculum is expected to provide beneficiaries with a wider range of technical skills to pursue employment or establish their own enterprises.

“The programme admits beneficiaries regardless of their formal education background and equips them with practical skills for self-employment and enterprise development,” Kamugisha said.

He encouraged local government leaders to consider qualified graduates for suitable contracts within their respective districts, noting that such opportunities would enable them to gain experience, build their businesses and generate income.

GOVERNMENT URGES GRADUATES TO UTILISE SACCO FUNDING

During the engagement, leaders emphasised the importance of linking vocational training to employment opportunities, business development and access to financing.

Mukono Resident District Commissioner Hajjat Fatuma Ndisaba challenged graduates to take greater responsibility for their economic advancement by engaging their SACCOs and pursuing available government opportunities.

Ndisaba questioned why some beneficiaries continued to seek additional facilitation despite receiving free training and access to Shs50 million in financing for the hub SACCOs.

She urged graduates to organise themselves and make use of the available financing to establish and expand income-generating activities.

However, she also called for a government directive, implemented through the relevant ministries, to facilitate access to suitable local government contracts for qualified graduates.

She argued that such opportunities would enable beneficiaries to gain practical experience, build capital and strengthen their businesses.

LEADERS WELCOME NEW HUB

Charles Karangwa, Vice Chairperson of the Mengo Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub and NRM District Chairperson for Buikwe, commended President Museveni for introducing the programme, saying it was helping improve the livelihoods of young people.

He called on communities to embrace vocational training as a practical intervention to address unemployment.

Agnes Kirabo Nantongo, Vice Chairperson of the National Women’s Council and Luweero District Women’s Council Chairperson, also welcomed the proposed facility.

Kirabo offered land she had previously acquired for a skilling centre to State House for consideration as a possible site for the project.

She said the land could be assessed to determine whether it was suitable for the proposed facility.

EXISTING HUB SERVES MULTIPLE DISTRICTS

The Mengo Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Kayunga currently serves 17 administrative units, including Luweero, Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Kayunga, Buikwe, Buvuma, Mukono, Wakiso, Butambala and Mpigi districts, alongside several municipalities.

According to information presented during the meeting, the facility is the second-largest in terms of administrative coverage after the Ankole Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, which serves 18 administrative units.

Each hub accommodates approximately 240 trainees, who undertake different courses during six-month training cycles.

The proposed Luweero facility is expected to extend access to vocational training for young people across the Greater Luweero sub-region.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen the transition from training to employment through improved access to financing, business opportunities and suitable government contracts.

Once established, the new hub would provide an additional avenue for young people in Luweero, Nakasongola and Nakaseke to acquire practical skills, start businesses and contribute to the country’s economic development.