Kampala, Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni has advised artisans and youth groups in Kampala to abandon individualistic approaches to work and instead form group-owned companies to ensure sustainability and long-term wealth creation.
Speaking at the launch of the Kigo Carpentry and Skilling Centre on Tuesday, on Day 2 of his Kampala PDM Wealth Creation Tour, Mr Museveni noted that while skilling initiatives have made significant strides, their impact is undermined when beneficiaries operate in isolation rather than collectively.
“This tendency to work individually is risky. We taught the Banyankore not to divide land when the time for inheritance comes but to stay united and work as a family,” Museveni said.
Accompanied by First Lady Maama Janet Museveni, the President advised them to rethink the traditional approach of fragmented individual work, especially when it comes to managing land and shared resources.
“I want to know who the owner is, you people should form a company and work together. This tendency of working individually is risky. I taught the Banyankore not to divide land when the time for inheritance comes, stay united and work as a family,” he said.
He further explained that land fragmentation causes inefficiencies, chaos, and stunted progress, citing his own family’s example, where he and Maama Janet set up a family company where members contribute to shared productivity and benefit from collective profits.
“Europeans developed by forming companies through families. That’s how they advanced. Leave backwardness and embrace that model,” he emphasized.
President Museveni also pledged to support the centre’s growth by providing more equipment and financial capital. He promised to inject Shs500 million into the SACCO to boost production and raw material procurement.
He also noted the importance of proper infrastructure and pledged to work on improving road access to the centre to facilitate easier transportation for buyers. “All other issues are easy, but the formula for working together is what matters. If you get it right, everything else will follow,” the President said.
Museveni revealed that he had tasked Hon. Balaam Barugahara, Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, to work with the centre’s leadership to streamline its ownership, fee structures, and training strategy.
“Right now, you are training people for free. That’s not sustainable. You should have sponsors who pay fees to the centre. You are becoming donors, it’s too early for that. Let’s have a formula that benefits both trainers and trainees,” he advised.
Mr. Ivan Ainebyoona, Chairperson of the Kigo Carpentry Centre, thanked the President for standing with the artisans through difficult times.
“Whenever it rained or the sun was too much, we were worried but you came and rescued us. We now work in dignity. We are happy, and history will remember you,” Mr. Ainebyoona said, reaffirming that their work is non-political and deeply rooted in self-reliance.
Mr. Majid Kigundu, the centre’s Secretary-General, emotionally recounted the centre’s journey that began in 2016 when a group of desperate carpenters blocked the President’s convoy in Munyonyo.
“We told you our story. We were struggling in Nsambya, being tossed around by KCCA. You listened and gave us carpentry and tailoring machines, Shs100m for our SACCO, and even told us you had sold your cows to buy us this land,” Mr. Kigundu recalled.
“We are now paying taxes, training youth, and have now secured orders to make beds for Special Forces Command soldiers.”
He urged the President to enforce the executive order against exporting raw timber, stating that the artisans at Kigo are ready to add value locally. “We have all the designs. Let people come and support us here instead of exporting raw timber,” he appealed.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the centre by enhancing production capacity and improving road infrastructure to facilitate better access for buyers and markets.
This latest stop adds to Museveni’s consistent messaging throughout his Kampala PDM tour, encouraging Ugandans to focus not just on government-led infrastructure but on household income generation, wealth creation, and sustainable enterprise models.
The Kigo Carpentry and Skilling Centre, located in Kigo Mutungo, Ndejje Parish, Makindye-Sabagabo Municipality, Wakiso District, is home to 588 members and offers training in carpentry, metal fabrication, tailoring, and weaving.
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