The Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula Nadiope IV has said that his Gabula Royal Foundation will continue supporting the government in skilling the youth to improve the quality of labour.
He made the remarks while officiating the graduation ceremony of Gabula Royal Foundation where 14000 women and youth successfully completed training in various vocational skills.
This was the 3rd graduation ceremony organized by Gabula Royal Foundation through its Kisoboka skilling Busoga project and was held at the Kyabazinga’s Budhumbula Palace on Saturday in Kamuli district.
On the same day, Kyabazinga also celebrated his 23rd Gabula Day as the Gabula of Bugabula, Budiope and Buzaaya Chiefdom, one of the 11 chiefdoms of Busoga Kingdom.
The Monarch, who was fascinated by the huge numbers of youth who were graduating, said youth skilling is crucial to attaining socio-economic transformation agenda and helps youth attain necessary skills and find meaningful employment.
He also appreciated the Princes, Princesses, clan heads, religious leaders, elders’ council, security and media among others for their endless works they have done for Busoga through unity and requested his subjects to continue with the spirit in order to better Busoga.
The Kyabazinga thanked the Directorate of Industrial Training for injecting in the skilling program over sh7 million to make it successful.
The Kyabazinga further requested the youth who graduated to train other youth from their respective chiefdoms, in skills they have learnt at Gabula Royal Foundation so that they may create jobs and improve their income.
“I thank God for giving us the gift of life and enabling us to solve some of our challenges successfully,” said Kyabazinga.
Busoga Kingdom’s second deputy Prime Minister Owek. Al-Haj Osman Ahmed Noor said “it is a moment of double happiness as this event, which has also coincided with the Gabula Day celebrations, is the first after our Kyabazinga unveiled to the World our mother the Inhebantu.”
Owek. Al-Haj Osman noted that in a country of 75 per cent people being below 30 years old, it is important that Kingdoms like the great kingdom of Busoga sets its youth up to be productive and employable.
“Skilling young people is one sure way of ensuring that our young people are equipped with more than classroom knowledge in order to be productive and be able to actively join the money economy.”
Your Majesty, you acted with great foresight when you founded the Gabula Royal Foundation. You also acted with selfless wisdom when you started the Busoga skilling project. Our Kingdom has a big number of out of school youth: teenage mothers, out of school young men and women who were becoming hopeless due to not just lack of jobs but lack of employable skills,” Al-Haj Osman observed.
Owek. Al-Haj Osman said that these great initiatives fit within the great vision of the Kyabazinga of developing Busoga and urged the graduates to ensure that they use what they have been skilled in to take themselves and Busoga to greater heights.
Isaac Imaka, the CEO of Gabula Royal Foundation, thanked the Kyabazinga for giving him the opportunity to lead his foundation adding that 14000 young men and women retooled and were skilled in various vocational skills.
Imaka further said that 22000 young people have so far been skilled out of a target of 50,000 in the five years and two years are remaining as they continue to impact lives and changing families.
Sulait Kyepa the programs manager of Kisoboka skilling Busoga project appreciated the Directorate of Industrial Training for the support it accorded to them and requested DIT to consider some of the skilled young people to continue with level two studies in their various courses as they continue to upgrade.
Kyepa said the program has so far benefited chiefdoms which include Bukooli, Bunha, Bunhole Bunanhumba, Bugweri, Busiki, Bukono and Butembe where learners have been skilled in Tailoring, Carpentry, Construction, Knitting, Hair dressing, Motorbike repairing, Smart Agriculture, Care repair, entrepreneur skills, phone repair and computer skills.
The first deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga donated 100 sewing machines to be used by the foundation to train more young people at various skilling hubs that will be set up in different chiefdoms.
The sewing machines were handed over to Owek. Al-Haji Osman by Stephen Kisa Bakubalwayo the Luuka South Member of Parliament, on behalf of Kadaga who was not present due to official duties.
Present at the ceremony were Royal Chiefs from various Chiefdoms of Busoga led by Issabalangira Prince Samuel Zirabamuzale Nkuutu also the Menhya of Bugweri, Busoga Kingdom Ministers, Members of Parliament who include Baroda Watongola (Kamuli Municipality), Moses Walyomu (Kagoma County), Henry Kibalya (Bugabula South), Veronika Kadogo (EALA), Isaac Musumba, Uganda Road Fund Executive Director Dr. Eng. Andrew Naimanye, Miss Tourism Busoga 2023/2024 Mercy Tenywa and other queens, and parents of graduates.
