Technical students ask Govt to provide start-up tool kit after training

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Youth undergoing technical skills training in Kasese district have urged government to adjust interventions to uplift Ugandans’ lives to include providing moderate capital and tools after completion of their studies.

Celebrating the belated International Youth Day district celebrations at Nyakasanga play grounds in Kasese municipality, the youth said there is need to fundamentally address challenges facing them beyond just giving them free life skills.

Mumbere Junior Amuza, a student at Mubuku Industrial Hub studying hair dressing said that government needs to scale up interventions for youth by ensuring that there is accessible and affordable financing so that they can start and run own businesses after school.

He added that government needs to prioritize offering employment opportunities to youth who have undergone government funded skill trainings.

Muhindo Fahd Shikhuran Bitwamba another student says that many youths attain the skills but after get back home and fail to utilize the acquired skills to generate incomes due to lack of capital and employment opportunities.

He adds that many of them who are undergoing free skilling don’t have money to start business enterprises by themselves.

Elias Mugora, doing carpentry and joinery at the skills hub says most of the machines required for his work are expensive and he cannot afford them even when he wishes to employ himself after graduating early next year.

He suggest that government needs to offer start up tools to those who have completed their course and unable to find employment within a specific given time.

Moreen Kabugho, a student at Kasese polytechnic requested that government develops policies that will see government sponsored students get employment after school.

She says that many of them are from less advantaged families and consequently unable to start workshops by themselves.

Ronald Kato, the director Kasese Youth Link for Development says the focus of government should be more on the female youth who among them include child mothers and survivors of domestic violence.

He said that while they are able to acquire skills, they lack resources to utilize them productively.

Yasin Bwambale Kadogo, the chairperson Kasese youth council said that investing in the young people is key is harnessing the country’s demographic dividend.He agrees that there is a need to support trained youth to find employable opportunities.

The Kasese district has already given the youth 5 acres of land where they are going to install the inter-locking brick making machine offered by the president so that they can generate incomes.

Former minister of defence and Bukhonzo West MP Crispus Kiyonga asked the district leadership to schedule a seminar where they will assess the impact of government programs among the youth in the district.

According to a recent Twaweza released data, nine out of ten young Ugandans mention start up capital as the main thing they would need to start or run a business.

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