We should get tired of spending money on things we produce in Uganda- Museveni

President Museveni has said that there are a lot of goods that the country imports that can be manufactured locally.

“A lot of funds are used in importing goods that can be produced in Uganda. The Government has facilitated the youth by providing them with common user facilities in Nsambya, Kampala and Rukungiri District. Why should we buy furniture from countries that have got no forests while we have forests within?” he said. We export hides and skins in their raw form and end up buying expensive shoes from Italians,” he said.

The President made the observation during the 3rd graduation of 720 students of Victory School of Beauty in Natete in Kampala. The ceremony took place Wednesday at Wankulukuku Stadium in Kampala City. The beneficiaries qualified in various fields that include cosmetology, fashion & design, radio and TV presentation, hotel management, functions and decorations.

Vice-President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, who attended the ceremony, is the patron of the private school under its Executive Director, Robert Kasibante.

President Museveni thanked Vice-President Kiwanuka Sekandi for accepting to be the patron of Victory School of Beauty and also for guiding them in their operations. He commended Mr. Robert Kasibante for joining the Government in its efforts to produce leather shoes locally noting that the effort is similar to the Government’s skilling projects that are under the supervision of State House Comptroller, Mrs. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, whose target is value addition to local products.

He revealed to the gathering that the Government would start a leather processing industry in Luweero District. He also said that the country would soon embark on making sweaters that were being previously imported. He informed the people of Uganda that commercial agriculture is a very lucrative venture that provides employment and wealth for wananchi. He, therefore observed that the skills being passed on to the youth serve well in small scale industries.

President Museveni pledged to help Victory School of Beauty to expand its programmes on top of a pledge to provide transport to the institution.

Vice-President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, while thanking the President for gracing the school’s occasion, noted that “the school is a building block towards skilling in response to President Museveni’s policy of poverty eradication.” He lauded the President for having made Uganda a beacon of peace in the region.

State Minister of Primary Education, Rosemary Sseninde, who represented the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, saluted the President for the Girl Child skilling programme of the NRM Government. She noted that advancements in various sectors are being realized because of the peace that President Museveni ushered into the country.

She revealed that the Ministry of Education and Sports was allotted Shs.305 billion by Government for the skilling programme that is currently facilitating 4,000 students.

The Executive Director of Victory School of Beauty, Robert Kasibante saluted the President for promoting skilling the country noting that it is the way towards development because vocational skilling assures the youth of employment.