Zombo, Uganda: At least 40 youths in Zombo District have successfully completed a six-month intensive vocational training programme under the Zombo Rural Development Network Association (ZORUDENA), a local community-based organisation championing youth empowerment, women’s advancement, and family livelihood transformation.
The graduation ceremony, held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at Alfa Guest House in Alangi Trading Centre, drew hundreds of residents who celebrated the milestone with a colourful procession by the graduates through the streets of Alangi Sub-county.
The training, conducted at Alangi Youth Skilling Centre, followed a cost-sharing model and focused on high-demand disciplines, including Tailoring and Garment Cutting, Hairdressing and Cosmetology.
ZORUDENA Executive Director, John Wilembe, praised the graduates for their commitment and announced post-training support to help them start their enterprises. “We will conduct follow-up monitoring and provide startup toolkits for salons, catering businesses, and tailoring workshops,” Wilembe said.
He emphasized ZORUDENA’s goal of promoting youth self-reliance and reducing rural unemployment through practical vocational education.
Wilembe noted that vocational training is one of the most effective interventions for addressing joblessness and improving household incomes. “We are building youth independence by tackling multiple socio-economic barriers through skill enhancement, access to resources, and market linkages,” he added.
Bruno Mananu, Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Zombo, applauded the initiative, urging the graduates to use their skills to create value and employment. “Deploy these skills toward value addition to fight household poverty and integrate into the money economy,” he advised.
Grace Oleru, the Vice Chairperson of Zombo District Local Council V, commended ZORUDENA’s impact, describing the initiative as a lifeline for youth struggling with limited job opportunities. “Parents should support their children with basic startup tools to help them effectively apply their skills,” she urged.
ZORUDENA’s efforts align with President Yoweri Museveni’s national skilling agenda, launched through Presidential Skilling Hubs in 2017, which continue to produce employable youth across Uganda.
Since its founding in 2019, ZORUDENA has empowered over 100 children, supported 500 families, and positively impacted more than 12,000 lives through targeted interventions in education, livelihoods, and social inclusion.
Zombo District, with a population of over 300,000 people (UBOS 2024 Census) and a 65% youth illiteracy rate, faces a severe youth unemployment crisis.
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