President Museveni has directed the introduction of four new courses at the Presidential Zonal Industrial Skilling Hubs as part of ongoing efforts to equip more young Ugandans with practical skills for employment, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation.
The announcement was made during the opening of a one-week induction training for newly appointed Finance Managers of the Presidential Zonal Industrial Skilling Hub SACCOs and Managers of Presidential Demonstration Farms at the Oliver Reginald Tambo Leadership School in Kaweweta.
The training was officially opened by the Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, and attended by the Commandant of the Leadership School, Brig. Gen. Justus Rukundo, among other officials.
Addressing participants, Babalanda urged the newly appointed managers to uphold integrity, accountability, and professionalism in managing public resources.
"The success of these programmes will depend not only on sound financial management but also on effective leadership, professionalism, transparency, and accountability," she said.
She warned against corruption, fraud, and financial mismanagement, emphasizing that public funds must be used efficiently to deliver value to citizens.
Babalanda also commended President Museveni for establishing the skilling hubs, noting that they have transformed the lives of thousands of young people by providing vocational skills, employment opportunities, and pathways to self-reliance.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs at State House, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, revealed that the President had directed the programme to expand the range of courses offered at the skilling hubs.
"Beginning with the next intake, we shall introduce Electrical Engineering, Plumbing, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, and Weaving and Knitting," Kamugisha said.
He noted that the programme has already registered significant achievements, with many graduates securing employment in government institutions and the private sector.
"About 600 of our graduates have joined the UPDF Engineering Brigade as professionals, others have joined the Uganda Police Force, while many have established their own businesses and are creating jobs for fellow Ugandans," he said.
The Commissioner for Technology Transfer and Presidential Demonstration Farms, Dr. Moses Ochen, urged the newly recruited farm managers to use the induction training to better understand and implement the President's vision of transforming Uganda into a modern agricultural economy.
"This training should help you align your mindset with the President's vision. Your responsibility is to ensure that the demonstration farms become centres of excellence that support modern farming and wealth creation," Ochen said.
He encouraged members of the public to utilise the Presidential Demonstration Farms as learning centres where they can acquire practical agricultural skills and access improved planting materials and livestock breeds.
"Our demonstration farms are open to the public. Farmers should visit them to learn modern farming practices and access improved inputs such as coffee seedlings, banana planting materials, and improved livestock breeds," he said.
Ochen further urged the managers to champion the Four-Acre Model and promote commercial agriculture in their respective areas of deployment.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Industrial Hubs in Central and Western Uganda, Julius Muhairwe, advised the officers to ensure prudent management of funds entrusted to them.
"You have a duty to ensure that the money given to beneficiaries is properly utilised. The recruitment of State House Finance Officers will strengthen monitoring and accountability within the SACCOs established to support graduates of the Presidential Industrial Hubs," Muhairwe said.
He explained that the deployment of finance officers is intended to improve oversight of revolving funds and ensure that beneficiaries invest the resources in intended wealth-creation projects.
The one-week induction programme, which commenced on June 22, is scheduled to conclude on June 26, 2026, with participants receiving certificates upon successful completion.
The training is designed to equip managers with the skills and knowledge required to effectively oversee Presidential Industrial Hubs, SACCOs, and Demonstration Farms, key government initiatives aimed at promoting job creation, skills development, and socio-economic transformation across the country.
