Brig. Gen. Rukundo made the appeal on Friday during the pass-out ceremony of 57 State House staff who completed a week-long leadership and ideological orientation course at the school.
The graduates comprised Presidential Industrial Hub managers, farm managers and finance officers responsible for overseeing government skilling hubs and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) established to support beneficiaries of the Presidential Industrial Hubs Programme.
Rukundo recalled that President Museveni first pledged Shs4 billion for the school's infrastructure development on May 17, 2022, during a similar pass-out ceremony at Kololo Independence Grounds.
According to the commandant, the President reaffirmed the commitment on October 14, 2023, and later directed on May 4, 2024, that the funds be released.
"The school is currently constructing a 20-room guest house and plans to build a modern learning auditorium and senior officers' dormitories once the pledged funds are received," Rukundo said.
He commended the Office of the National Political Commissar and the UPDF Joint Staff Civil Engineering Department for supporting ongoing construction works using locally generated resources.
Rukundo said the leadership course focused on ideological orientation, discipline, patriotism, mindset change and leadership development to prepare participants to support Uganda's socio-economic transformation.
"The course is designed to instil a conscious mindset and equip participants with the tools to transform the 32 per cent of Ugandan households that remain outside the money economy," he said.
The participants also received training on economic transformation, Pan-Africanism, Uganda's political history and leadership, alongside presentations from officials drawn from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Trade, Public Service and the Presidency.
Officials from the Parish Development Model Secretariat and financial institutions also facilitated sessions.
Representing the State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye, the Director of Presidential Industrial Hubs Projects, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, urged the graduates to uphold integrity while implementing government programmes.
"We may provide all the knowledge and skills, but without integrity, we shall not succeed," Kamugisha said.
He said Uganda continues to face a significant youth unemployment challenge, noting that more than three million Ugandans require skills training and employment support, while the current State House programmes have the capacity to train only about 20,000 people annually.
"At this rate, it would take approximately 150 years to address the current demand. This is an emergency that requires commitment and patriotism," he said.
Kamugisha also disclosed that the government has allocated Shs8.8 billion to support graduates from the Presidential Industrial Hubs through 176 regional SACCOs. He said complementary initiatives, including value addition, import substitution and demonstration farms, are intended to enhance productivity and wealth creation among beneficiaries.
The chief guest, Government Chief Whip Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, credited President Museveni with championing vocational skills development long before it became widely recognised as a key driver of economic transformation.
"Long before many appreciated the value of vocational education, the President recognised that sustainable development depends on a skilled population capable of producing, adding value and creating wealth," Aceng said.
She said practical skills had enabled many Ugandans to improve their livelihoods, citing communities such as Kiruhura where beneficiaries have transitioned from subsistence living to wealth creation.
"The greatest asset of any nation is its people. When citizens possess practical skills, discipline and a strong work ethic, they become drivers of national development," she said.
Aceng encouraged the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired during the training and to promote integrity, patriotism and service in their respective assignments.
"Go back and inspire transformation in your communities. Let your leadership produce lasting results and your integrity remain unquestionable," she said.
The Presidential Industrial Hubs Programme is one of the government's flagship youth skilling initiatives aimed at equipping young people with vocational skills to enable them secure employment, establish businesses and contribute to local economic development.
Four participants were recognised for their outstanding performance during the training. Hamid Isabirye emerged as the overall best participant, while Violah Namanda, Daniel Koojo and Ritah Katusiime were also honoured for their performance.