President Yoweri Museveni, accompanied by the first lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, over the weekend commissioned the Toro Zonal Industrial hub, as he concluded his Rwenzori-Toro PDM tour.

President Museveni cuts the tape to mark the official opening of the Tooro Zonal Industrial Hub, at Kijwiiga

The hub is located in Kijwiga Village, Katooke Sub county, Mwenge Central in Kyenjojo District.

President Yoweri Museveni also directed an expansion of hands-on skills training at the Toro Zonal Industrial Presidential Hub, increasing the number of courses from seven to eleven, and also increase enrolment.

Speaking during the official commissioning of the hub in Kijwiga, Katooke Sub-County, Kyenjojo District, Museveni announced that new courses such as electrical installation, motor vehicle mechanics, plumbing, weaving, knitting, and design would be added to the existing curriculum. He emphasized the importance of equipping Ugandan youth with practical skills to reduce dependence on imported goods, particularly those that could be produced locally. He also pledged government support to expand the hub by constructing more students’ accommodation facilities.

The First Lady, thanked the people of Kyenjojo for their unwavering support to the NRM government, and thanked the President for recognizing education, and skilling of the young generation, that ensures continuity of national transformation. “The establishment of the skilling hub in Kyenjojo, demonstrates government commitment to skilling the nation”, she remarked.

The First Lady, and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Kataaha Museveni addresses the congregation at the opening of the hub at Kihwiiga

 The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, who also doubles as Mwenge Central MP, Major (Rtd) Tom Butime applauded the President’s vision of industrializing the nation through skilling of the young generation, as the skilling hubs across the country, and particularly Kyenjojo and Toro, has given hope to the youth who could not afford school fees for secondary education, as they can now survive on the skills they have received from the hubs to self-employ themselves.

Kyenjojo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Julian Ayesiga praised the initiative, noting that the industrial hub has already turned young Ugandans into job creators. She reported that graduates of the hub have formed Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) to support their entrepreneurial innovations. She thanked the President for increasing student intake from 240 to 500, which gives more youth an opportunity to get a hands on training that will impact the nation. She also welcomed the President’s support towards forming SACCOs to help students transition into self-employment when they finish their courses at the hub.

Kyenjojo District RDC, Mrs. Julian Sarah Ayesiga

 Francis Byamukama, the Director of the Toro Presidential Industrial Hub, revealed that since 2022, over 450 youths have received free training in various technical fields enabling them to secure employment and start their own businesses. He urged the graduates from the hub, to testify of the good impact they received by putting in practice what they were trained in, so others can be encouraged to join, and contribute to the development of the nation.

President Museveni also promised the reconstruction of the Kampala-Fort Portal road, which has become increasingly difficult to navigate.

President Museveni together with a section of the Kijwiiga skilling hub beneficiaries at the official opening