President Yoweri Museveni has launched the Rwenzori Zonal Presidential Skilling Hub in Mubuku Town Council, Kasese District, as part of government’s ongoing effort to empower youth with practical skills.
In his remarks President Museveni emphasized National Resistance Movement (NRM) core mandate of lifting people up (okukyenuura), and education
“The NRM’s work is to okukyenuura, to lift people out of poverty. The Parish Development Model is aimed at helping families economically, but this hub is here to give knowledge. That’s another form of okukyenuura,” Museveni explained.
He told the gathering how exposure to education transformed his perspective and inspired him to push for free education across Uganda.
“My father, Amos Kaguta, and his father were traditional cattle keepers. They had many cows, but they were not educated. So even though we had cows, we were not living a good life,” the president recounted.
“When I went to school, by the time I reached A-Level, I had already started asking myself why can’t Uganda, why can’t Ankole, become like Europe? That was the power of education.”
“I had seen what education had done for me. But in my primary school, many of my classmates dropped out because their parents couldn’t afford fees. Only a few of us made it to university myself, Kategaya, and
a couple of others. The rest disappeared,” he added.
Museveni however criticized local resistance to the implementation of Universal Primary and Secondary Education (UPE and USE), blaming some leaders for prioritizing other agendas over children’s future.
“We introduced money for free education, but it was never fully implemented. In Ntoroko, for example, they told me that only 30% of children who start nursery school reach Primary Seven. That is very bad,” he said.
“That’s why I went back to Luweero and said, ‘I am going to start Presidential Skilling Hubs in every zone.’ No one can stop me. I am the one here.”he stated
According to Ministry of Education Over nine million people have been educated under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program since its inception in 1997. The Universal Secondary Education (USE) program has also benefited a significant number, though a precise total cumulative figure is less consistently reported across sources than UPE data,
When the program started in 2007, enrollment increased significantly. The number of students in USE schools grew from an initial 42,000 to over 800,000 by 2013. The total secondary school enrollment across the country increased by 25% within two years, from 814,087 students in 2006 to 1,194,454 in 2009.
The program has been successful in increasing access to secondary education, particularly for girls from economically weak families who previously would have dropped out.
A 2024 census report indicated that 80% of Uganda’s population aged six years and above can easily access universal education (which includes both Universal Primary Education (UPE) and USE
The universal education programs have been a major factor in improving the general literacy rate in Uganda, which has climbed to 74% according to the 2024 census, though regional and gender disparities still exist.
“We want to expand these hubs to house at least 500 learners. We shall build more dormitories and training sheds for motor mechanics, plumbing, electrical installation, weaving, and more,” he said.
President Museveni announced that funding would be directed to district-based SACCOs rather than zonal ones, so that youth can easily access startup capital after completing their training.
“The training will remain at the zonal hubs, but the SACCOs for graduates will be at the district level, where people can easily access them,” he said.
In a historical reflection, the President reminded the audience that the NRM was born out of a student movement in the 1960s that rejected the divisive politics of identity based on tribe and religion.
“That’s how the problem in the Rwenzori region started. They tried to block a Mukonjo, Timothy Bazaramusa, from becoming Katikkiro of Tooro. People like the father of Mumbere walked out of the council, our student movement came in to fight that tribalism,” he recalled.
“We said no, our politics must not be about identity, but about the real needs of the people,” he added.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa commended the government’s efforts in transforming the lives of young Ugandans through the Presidential Zonal Industrial Hubs, describing the initiative as a powerful tool for restoring hope and empowering school dropouts to become job creators.
Tayebwa said the testimonies from the beneficiaries were proof that visionary leadership can revive lost dreams.
“The testimonies we are getting here are a true reflection that when you have a leader who is intentional and visionary, he can restore hope to those who had lost it,” he said.
“That’s exactly what is happening here for these young people, especially those who had dropped out of school. They have been given a second chance and most of them are taking advantage of it.”