During the International Youth Day celebration on August 18, 2023, Tadeo Taremwa, Kabale District Youth Chairperson, appealed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to create an ICT Hub aimed at enhancing local technological capabilities and empowering youth with skills.
The event, centered around the theme of accelerating COVID-19 recovery and implementing the 2030 Agenda with a youth-focused perspective, underscores significant cultural and legal matters relevant to young individuals.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Kigezi High School Primary lower playground and presided over by President Museveni, Taremwa stressed the immediate need for an ICT hub in Kabale District to address the pressing issue of youth unemployment.
Taremwa emphasized that an ICT innovation hub provides vital resources such as workspace, mentorship, education, and funding access for startups. He underscored the importance of allocating essential resources, including personnel, for successful pilot programs, proofs of concept, and subsequent initiatives. Additionally, he highlighted the hub’s role in safeguarding intellectual property rights for these innovations.
Minister for Gender, Labor, and Social Development, Betty Among, announced her ministry’s collaboration with the Education Ministry, specifically focusing on Business, Technical, Vocational Education, and Training (BTVET) in conjunction with Presidential Industrial Hubs. This partnership seeks to equip and employ youth effectively.
As the Chief Guest, President Museveni commended innovators from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, led by Richard Kwagala, for creating a gadget capable of monitoring blood clotting. President Museveni pledged government funding to support scientific innovators, emphasizing the importance of timely financial assistance.
The occasion witnessed the presence of government officials, Members of Parliament, Ministers, and youth leaders, all underscoring the event’s significance and impact.