President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed that State House will support the youth trained under a skilling programme run by Kole North MP Dr. Opio Acuti.
The President described the initiative as a timely complement to national efforts to tackle unemployment.
This follows a statement that Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti delivered before the President during the ongoing NRM parliamentary retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
Acuti said the programme has so far equipped more than 1,000 youth with vocational training skills in courses such as carpentry, hairdressing, tailoring, building and construction, and motorcycle mechanics.
Dr. Opio Acuti further informed the President that over half of the trainees have received DIT certificates under the Ministry of Education and Sports, and 172 graduates have already opened workshops.
However, he expressed frustration that some offices at the national level have been distributing sewing machines and welding machines to youth in other parts of the country, but such support has never crossed Karuma to benefit his constituents.
Lawmaker Acuti requested presidential support for the graduates in the form of start-up equipment such as sewing machines, carpentry tools, and hairdressing kits, in order to boost job creation for the youth. He added that they are now rolling out free vocational training for every youth.
He noted that he has opened over seven different vocational centers in Kole North, established to support children from low-income families by offering free skills training across all town councils and sub-counties.
He said the centers have significantly impacted youth skills development not only in Kole but across the entire Lango sub-region.
Additionally, he thanked President Museveni for bringing the Lira presidential hub closer to the region, noting that it is now supporting many youth across the Lango sub-region.
The training school, located at Lira University, has a capacity of training over 240 youth—both female and male—yearly, Opio said.
In response, President Museveni commended the initiative and said the government is opening a Sacco in each district for graduates of the Presidential Skilling Hub. He added that beneficiaries of the MP’s programme can also be included.
The President directed the State House Controller to send a team to Kole District to assess the training and advise on appropriate support.
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