Uganda’s First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, made an important plea during the fourth graduation ceremony of over 16,000 beneficiaries of the presidential skilling program at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala on Friday. Mrs. Museveni urged skilling centers not to neglect boy children, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach.
The presidential skilling program, initially focused on empowering girls, has now incorporated boys. This expansion, according to the First Lady, is a significant step toward achieving the program’s vision of a modern, skilled, and prosperous Uganda.
“I would like to remind all meaningful Ugandans to take a balanced approach and ensure that girl-centered affirmative action does not neglect the boy child, who likewise, requires opportunities through skilling and self-reliance,” she stated.
Mrs. Museveni stressed that inclusiveness of the boy child can contribute to ending gender discrimination in all aspects of Ugandan society. She emphasized the importance of avoiding the promotion of one gender at the expense of the other.
During the graduation ceremony, a total of 16,797 students acquired diverse skill sets in areas such as construction, plumbing, hairdressing, confectionery, and motor mechanics. The First Lady, accompanied by President Yoweri Museveni, presided over the event.
Mrs. Museveni encouraged the graduates to prioritize character development as a fundamental element of their future success. She said, “The skill and ability get you to the top, but it is good character that keeps you there. Therefore, from this day forward, have integrity. Integrity is who you are and what you do when no one is watching.”
Furthermore, the education minister urged the graduates to display exemplary conduct in both their skills and personalities, ensuring that others appreciate their interactions.
President Museveni addressed Africa’s challenges with dependency on imported goods, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency. He stated, “What our skilling program is doing is waking up these young people to say, ‘You can make money from satisfying human needs.'”
Under President Museveni’s directive, the State House has been providing free training to young people through this initiative for the past six years, starting in 2017. The program initially began with 850 underprivileged girls, offering training in tailoring, weaving, embroidery, knitting, shoe making, hairdressing, bakery, and confectionery. Graduates receive certificates upon successful completion of the six-month course, after passing an assessment exam set by the Directorate of Industrial Training.
