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Summary:

• Ms. Hope Nyakairu, State House Under Secretary, urged Special Forces Command (SFC) soldiers’ spouses to create their own income during a graduation ceremony, where 208 spouses graduated under the Presidential Initiative Skilling program, acquiring skills for self-sufficiency.

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Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | Yesterday, Ms. Hope Nyakairu, the Under Secretary of the State House, delivered a compelling message, urging the spouses of Special Forces Command (SFC) soldiers to concentrate on cultivating their own income sources for the betterment of their families.

Addressing the audience while representing Ms. Jane Barekye, the State House Comptroller, during the graduation ceremony of 208 spouses of SFC soldiers at the Marine Battalion Headquarters in Entebbe, Ms. Nyakairu emphasized the importance of self-sufficiency. These spouses, who completed the Presidential Initiative Skilling program initiated in 2004, were equipped with various skills such as shoe making, tailoring, baking, and catering.

Ms. Nyakairu conveyed that the concept of training SFC soldiers’ spouses originated in 2004, following a directive from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who also serves as the Commander In Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). The Presidential Initiative aimed to establish a platform for spouses to acquire skills and generate income, thus contributing to the well-being of their families.

Encouraging the graduates, Ms. Nyakairu urged them to apply the acquired skills diligently and strive to make a meaningful impact. She emphasized the importance of not only enhancing their own lives but also contributing to the overall development of the country.

Expressing gratitude, Ms. Nyakairu acknowledged the significant progress made since the initiative’s inception, with over 1,000 women being skilled, workshops established, and certificates issued. She thanked Mrs. Nayiga Esther Lillian, who leads the spouses of SFC soldiers, for her encouragement and role as a liaison between the group and the State House.

Promising support beyond training, Ms. Nyakairu assured the graduates that the State House would assist them in showcasing their products for marketing purposes. As a gesture of further support, sewing machines were handed over to the graduates by the President to aid them in initiating their work.

In response, Col. Dr. Damiano Kato expressed gratitude to President Museveni for prioritizing the skills development of SFC soldiers’ spouses, emphasizing the positive impact on their families’ welfare. Mrs. Nayiga Esther Lillian thanked the President for empowering the spouses through life skills training and appreciated the ongoing support provided by the State House Comptroller.

Representing the graduates, Mrs. Phionah Mugisa extended thanks to the President for his unwavering support and assistance in acquiring valuable skills.