Kibuku, Uganda: Government has confirmed plans to establish a second Presidential Industrial Hub in Tororo District to serve the southern part of the Bukedi sub-region, as district leaders called for greater investment in youth skills development and increased opportunities for vocational graduates to access local government contracts.
The announcement was made by the Director of Presidential Projects at State House, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, who represented State House Comptroller Jane Barekye during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Monday at the Bukedi Zonal Presidential Industrial Hub in Tirinyi Town Council, Kibuku District.
The meeting brought together Resident District Commissioners, district chairpersons, mayors, Chief Administrative Officers, security officials, technical officers and other stakeholders from across the Bukedi sub-region to review the progress of the Presidential Industrial Hubs programme and discuss its expansion.
At the opening of the meeting, Tororo District LCV Chairperson John Okea represented Kibuku District LCV Chairperson and Bukedi Zonal Industrial Hub Management Committee Chairperson, who was delayed while preparing for the Speaker of Parliament’s visit for the 9th Lugwere Bible Anniversary celebrations before joining the meeting later.
Delivering the chairperson’s message, Okea applauded President Museveni for introducing the Presidential Industrial Hubs programme alongside the competency-based education curriculum, saying both initiatives were equipping young Ugandans with practical skills needed for self-employment and wealth creation.
He said hundreds of young people trained at the Bukedi hub had already established livelihoods through carpentry, mechanics, tailoring, agriculture, fish farming and other vocational trades. “The skills our children acquire here are helping them earn an income instead of depending on white-collar jobs,” Okea said.
However, he noted that the industrial hub continues to face operational challenges, including inadequate staff accommodation, an under-equipped treatment room, unreliable electricity, limited water supply and the absence of transport for emergencies and administrative operations.
Responding to the concerns, Eng. Kamugisha confirmed that government had already initiated plans to establish another Presidential Industrial Hub in Tororo District. He asked leaders from Tororo to identify suitable land with a valid land title to enable government to commence the project.
According to Kamugisha, the proposed Tororo hub will serve Tororo District, Tororo Municipality, Busia District, Busia Municipality and Butaleja District.
The existing Bukedi Zonal Industrial Hub in Tirinyi will continue serving Kibuku, Pallisa, Budaka and Butebo districts, reducing congestion while bringing vocational training closer to beneficiaries.
Eng Kamugisha said the decision had been informed by the anticipated creation of additional administrative units around Tororo, including the proposed Tororo City, which is expected to increase demand for skills development opportunities.
He also announced government plans to establish Common User Facilities to support graduates after completing their training by enabling value addition, production and business incubation.
According to Kamugisha, the Common User Facility serving southern Bukedi will be established in Busia, while consultations are ongoing on the location of another facility that will serve Kibuku, Pallisa, Budaka and Butebo districts.
He advised district leaders to identify land located within municipalities, towns or busy trading centres along highways or tarmacked roads to ensure the facilities are commercially viable and easily accessible.
The announcement immediately attracted interest from district leaders.
Budaka District LCV Chairperson offered about 67 acres of land for the proposed facility, saying the district was ready to host the Common User Facility for northern Bukedi, while the Butebo District LCV Chairperson also requested that it be established in Butebo District.
Kamugisha said government would undertake further consultations before making a final decision.
He also challenged district leaders to prioritise graduates of the Presidential Industrial Hubs when awarding local government contracts, saying the beneficiaries had acquired practical skills and deserved opportunities to apply them while creating employment within their communities.
“We should first consider our own youth who have acquired these skills before looking elsewhere,” Kamugisha said.
Busia Municipal Mayor Amin Saddiq welcomed the proposal and pledged support for graduates from the industrial hubs.
Saddiq, who belongs to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), however, observed that local governments often have limited control over major contracts because many contractors are procured through central government systems.
“We are willing to support these young people, but many contractors are sent from the central government, making it difficult for local governments to award work to our own skilled youth,” Saddiq said.
He urged leaders to avoid politicising development programmes, arguing that government initiatives benefit citizens regardless of political affiliation. “We should not mix development with politics. Let us all work together for the transformation of Bukedi,” he added.
The meeting also heard testimonies from some of the pioneer graduates of the Bukedi Zonal Industrial Hub, who said the programme had transformed their lives.
The beneficiaries told stakeholders that after completing their training, they received start-up capital that enabled them to establish businesses using the vocational skills they had acquired. They said the initiative had improved household incomes, created employment opportunities and inspired more young people to enrol for skills training.
Kamugisha further announced the reconstitution of the Bukedi Zonal Industrial Hub Management Committee.
He said every district will nominate representatives from the Resident District Commissioner’s office, District Internal Security Office, local government, technical departments, youth councils, women councils and representatives of persons with disabilities.
The committees will be responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries and submitting names ahead of every six-month intake.
He reminded leaders that training under the Presidential Industrial Hubs programme remains fully funded by government, with beneficiaries receiving free tuition, accommodation, meals and practical instruction.
Kamugisha also urged district leaders to support graduates after completion of training by linking them to government wealth creation initiatives, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, to enable them establish sustainable enterprises.
The Presidential Industrial Hubs initiative is one of the government’s flagship youth empowerment programmes aimed at equipping unemployed young Ugandans with practical vocational skills to promote self-employment, industrialisation and wealth creation. Similar hubs have been established across the country as part of President Museveni’s strategy to reduce youth unemployment through free, market-oriented skills training.
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