West Nile Gets Second Presidential Skilling Hub as State House Warns Inactive Leaders Over Youth Programme

What the report says

Nile Post reports that State House plans to set up a second Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Uganda’s West Nile sub-region, alongside a warning to local leaders not to obstruct or neglect the youth training programme. The announcement was made during a meeting at the existing West Nile Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Zombo District, attended by district hub committees, RDCs, district chairpersons, NRM leaders and technical officers from several West Nile local governments.

According to the report, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, Director of Presidential Projects and Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs at State House, said President Yoweri Museveni had directed that another hub be established. The proposed site is Maracha District if land is made available; otherwise, it could be shifted to Arua District. The new facility would serve areas including Maracha, Koboko, Yumbe, Terego, Arua City and Arua District, while the Zombo hub would continue serving Nebbi, Pakwach, Zombo and Madi Okollo.

Godfrey Longa, the Special Presidential Assistant for Political Affairs and National Coordinator for Presidential Hubs in Eastern and Northern Uganda, criticised some district committees for inactivity and for prioritising allowances over participation. He said leaders should help graduates access follow-up support, including SACCO financing. Nile Post cited figures showing graduates in districts and municipalities such as Koboko, Yumbe, Maracha, Arua City and Zombo had already received SACCO loans, though some others lacked national IDs.

The report says Kamugisha introduced Abdul Vita as the finance officer overseeing more than Shs600 million placed in Presidential Industrial Hub SACCOs across West Nile. The programme is presented by government as a vocational training and entrepreneurship initiative for vulnerable and unemployed youth, intended to support self-employment and local wealth creation.