Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has allocated Shs3 billion for the purpose of empowering and skilling at least 1,300 youth in northern Uganda. State Minister for Northern Uganda, Ms Grace Freedom Kwiyocwiny, emphasized the government’s commitment to combating poverty by investing resources in youth skill development. The minister addressed leaders at the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre (NUYDC) in Labora Sub-County, Omoro District, during a ceremony where 1,300 youths from 41 districts received start-up kits after completing a three-month skills training course in agriculture and entrepreneurship.

Ms Kwiyocwiny acknowledged the prevalent poverty in northern Uganda, particularly in Lango, Acholi, West Nile, and Karamoja regions. She affirmed the government’s dedication to ongoing investments and the allocation of additional resources to empower communities in the region. The minister praised the government’s skilling program for its positive impact on youth resilience, independence, and livelihoods.

According to Mr Mayanja Gonzaga, the commissioner of monitoring and evaluation at OPM, the skilling program and start-up kits cost Shs3 billion. He highlighted that this amount covered various aspects, including the kits, trainers’ fees, transportation, and staff upkeep. Meanwhile, Mr Douglas Peter Okello, the Omoro District chairman, urged Ms Kwiyucwiny to follow up on the government’s commitment to establish Omoro Technical Institute, emphasizing the secured 20 acres of land for the project.

Youth participant Mr Alfred Odur commended the government’s skilling program, sharing his success in cultivating and selling pine seedlings and indigenous tree seedlings like shea nuts. The head of the EU delegation in Uganda, Mr Jan Sadek, who attended the ceremony, expressed the EU’s delight in collaborating with the OPM for youth training in the agriculture sector. He emphasized the positive impact of such opportunities on employability, income, and livelihoods.

The skilling project, encompassing 26 short-term programs, is fully sponsored by the OPM under the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) Youth Skilling Program (YSP). Last year, OPM enlisted eight technical vocational education training institutes to provide training to youth from 41 districts, including the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre and Kotido Technical Institute.