Leaders in the Madi sub-region have appealed to the State House to establish Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories and introduce computer-related courses at the Madi Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, arguing that digital skills are now essential for young people seeking employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The appeal was made during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held at the Madi Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Adjumani District on Friday, July 31, 2026.
The hub serves youth from the districts of Moyo, Adjumani and Obongi.
Mr. Geoffrey Filbert Ocaliap, the Resident District Commissioner for Moyo and Chairperson of the Madi Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Board, said vocational trainees should graduate with both practical trade skills and digital competencies to remain competitive in the modern economy.
“The world is increasingly becoming digital. Our trainees need computer skills alongside their vocational training,” Mr. Ocaliap said, noting that an ICT laboratory would enable learners to conduct research on emerging technologies while also paving the way for computer studies to be introduced as a new course at the hub.
He described the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs as transformative institutions that equip young people with practical skills while awarding qualifications comparable to the Uganda Certificate of Education (Senior Four) level.
Mr. Ocaliap urged leaders across the region to intensify mobilisation so that more vulnerable youth can benefit from the free government programme.
He noted that the growing recognition of the hubs was reflected in the recent recruitment of several graduates into the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) as skilled professionals.
On post-training support, Mr. Ocaliap revealed that the Madi Hub SACCO had received Shs150 million, with Moyo, Adjumani and Obongi districts each allocated Shs50 million to finance graduates starting their own businesses.
However, he cited inadequate facilitation for SACCO executives and district hub committees responsible for monitoring beneficiaries as one of the major challenges affecting programme implementation.
Representing the State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, the Special Presidential Assistant on Political Affairs, Mr. Godfrey Longa, commended leaders in the Madi sub-region for their continued support towards the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs programme.
He announced that President Yoweri Museveni had released Shs8.8 billion to Presidential Industrial Hub SACCOs across the country to provide start-up capital to graduates.
Each zonal hub SACCO, he said, received Shs50 million, and called upon district leaders to ensure the funds are invested in productive enterprises.
“We want leaders to monitor these beneficiaries so that the money achieves its intended purpose of creating wealth and improving livelihoods,” Mr. Longa said.
He disclosed that 121 beneficiaries from the Madi sub-region had already received start-up capital, with more graduates expected to benefit.
Addressing concerns over delays in loan disbursement, Mr. Longa explained that the verification process was necessary to guarantee transparency and accountability.
He also revealed that State House had expanded the hub’s value-addition component through the construction of a grain milling plant, an animal feed factory and modern grain silos with a storage capacity of 500 metric tonnes.
Mr. Longa urged local leaders to mobilise communities to embrace commercial agriculture to ensure the facilities operate at full capacity and generate more employment opportunities.
On student discipline, he challenged district selection committees to admit only committed trainees willing to complete the programme.
“We need students who are committed to learning because this programme is transforming lives,” he said.
Mr. Longa recalled incidents where some trainees attempted to abandon the programme before later claiming they had been attacked by spirits. He also attributed some withdrawals to health conditions, including Hepatitis B, as well as pregnancy, and called for thorough screening before admission.
Regarding transport challenges, he said programme implementers should continue working within available resources as the State House finalises plans to provide transport to the hubs.
The meeting also heard testimonies from graduates whose lives have been transformed through the initiative.
Rehema Jamila, a tailoring graduate from Moyo District, said she received Shs560,000 from the hub SACCO, which enabled her to purchase a sewing machine and tailoring materials before establishing her own business.
She said the enterprise now employs other people and has significantly improved her family’s livelihood.
“My dream is to meet President Museveni and personally thank him for giving me a second chance in life,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Amacha William, a Primary Seven dropout from Lori Village in Adjumani District, said the programme helped him abandon illegal fishing after enrolling for bakery and confectionery training.
William said he initially failed to raise Shs30,000 from his wife to start a small mandazi business but later received support to launch the enterprise. After securing Shs700,000 from the hub SACCO, he expanded the business, now employs six people, has trained more than 20 others in bakery and confectionery, and supplies bread and mandazi across Moyo, Adjumani and Obongi districts.
“I thank President Museveni for giving me this opportunity. Today I can support my family and my next goal is to modernise my bakery by acquiring an industrial mixer and oven,” he said.
The Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub programme, implemented under the Office of the State House Comptroller, provides free vocational training, accommodation, meals and start-up capital to vulnerable youth, enabling them to establish businesses, create jobs and contribute to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
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