Dr. Faith Mirembe Katana, the Special Presidential Assistant on Skilling and Education and Head of Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child (PISGBC) project has advised the youth to utilise online platforms such as YouTube to boost their knowledge by learning from constructive content.
“You are very wealthy, your skills are valuable,” she reminded the soon-to-graduate cohort of 542 students.
She, however, cautioned them to desist from idle online platforms such as TikTok, where they tend to waste a lot of time and data.
Dr. Katana made the remarks yesterday at the Wabigalo Skilling Centre in Namuwongo during a showcasing ceremony of the students’ products after six months of vocational training.
She also revealed that a total of Shs990m was spent by the State House on instructional materials within a period of two months for all the nine Presidential Skilling centres within Kampala.
Dr. Katana also disclosed that at least shs200m has been spent on food (lunch) on a monthly basis for all the centres, while monthly salaries for instructors and support staff under the initiative amount to shs30m.
“All that comes from the State House budget; we also have another 19 centres spread outside Kampala,” Dr. Katana clarified.
Dr. Katana was responding to naysayers from opposition political parties who claim that the State House budget is bloated. She dismissed their claims as baseless and believes they are fueled by ignorance.
To deter cancer-causing utensils, Dr. Katana revealed that pottery is being introduced in the next intake to enable skilling beneficiaries to tap into that market for ceramics and pottery products which she said are much healthier-friendly compared to their plastic counterparts.
Ms. Amina Lukanga, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Mbarara, was lauded for propelling the Wabigalo Skilling Centre during her time in charge.
The centre’s current administrator, Mr. David Nkwanga said the centre registered 667 students in August last year (2024), but six months later, 125 candidates dropped out before they could register for the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) assessment.
The Centre, which offers a variety of practical courses such as construction, welding, plumbing and leather design, has managed to retain 542 students who are set to do their DIT exams next week, as a prerequisite for their graduation and certification. Of these, 49 students are female.
Other courses offered at the centre include mechanics, electronics repair, carpentry and electrical installation.
The event was attended by parents and other government officials such as Dr. Hillary Musoke, a Presidential advisor on agribusiness. It was also graced by Pastor Wilson Bugembe, a renowned gospel musician and televangelist who was a former street child.
Pr. Bugembe ministered to the students, who were inspired by his life story of transformation from rags to riches.
Students speak out on their skilling experiences:
Shivan Namara, an 18-year-old plumbing student, is the minister in charge of women’s affairs. She completed primary seven (P7) at Buganda Academy Primary School in 2023 in Entebbe but now resides with her aunt in Kansanga.
“Since I started the course, I have so far earned sh50,000 which I got after repairing a tap for a client,” Namara stated.
She said that before joining the skilling course, she was dealing with serious anger management issues, and at the climax of her rage, she boiled water and poured it on her teacher while she was still in P6.
“But I have changed; this is because of the good work our counsellor Robecca has done to reform us from unruly students to responsible people,” she said.
Her ambition is to start her own business and grow into a very prominent plumber.
Other students who expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Dr. Katana for equipping them with valuable skills include 29-year-old Albert Ahimbisibwe, a construction student as well as 33-year-old Salim Mbulako, a carpentry student who resides in Mbuya Kinawataka.
Nakibinge believes that: “The skills being DIT certified keep the students focussed and motivated. It is also good because their talents are promoted.”
