A total of 8,480 girls last Sunday graduated under the Presidential Initiative of Skilling the Girl Child, in a ceremony that was presided over by President Museveni at Kololo Independence grounds.
The program was launched in 2017 by the President with the main objective of equipping youthful girls with hands-on skills to enable them create jobs and generate wealth.
The program started with 700 girls enrolled in two centers; Wandegeya and Subway.
Currently the program is being implemented in seven centers which include; Mutundwe located at church of Uganda, Ntinda at Kigowa Catholic Church, Nankulabye at our Lady of Fatina Catholic Church, Wandegeya market northern wing, Luzira at prison school, Subway between UBC TV and Crested Towers, last but not least the recent addition Katanga center.
As of today, over 15,000 girls have benefited from the program. The girls are provided with lunch to cut down on cost and given certificates upon completion coupled with capital in form of cash and equipment depending on the course undertaken.
The latest group of graduands will each be given Shs1 million as start-up capital.
The girls were skilled in different skills such as; knitting, weaving, embroidery, shoe-making, tailoring, hairdressing, banking and confectionery.
The President implored the graduates to put the skills they have attained to good use to earn a living and also support their families.
He also commended the graduands for being steadfast and zealous in completing the course.
“You need to give birth businesses, research and find out where the gaps are and offer solutions. Why should we continue importing textiles when we have people skilled enough to make them? Now that we have empowered you with skills, your role now is to finish away the demand that we have in our country.”
The President further encouraged the youths to settle down in the country and make the best of the available opportunities. He also warned against taking money out of the country.
“We have to retain money in Africa including Job, we shall continue supporting such programs such that we don’t take our money abroad and also create more jobs,” he said.
