The State Minister for Northern Uganda, Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny urged the youth to utilize the kits to create employment and get more money in order to break free from poverty.
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has warned
youth who received business and agribusiness startup kits from the European
Union (EU) to utilize them instead of selling them off
The State Minister for Northern Uganda, Grace
Freedom Kwiyucwiny urged the youth to utilize the
kits to create employment and get more money in order to break free from
poverty.
They were on Thursday officiating over the
distribution of startup kits to 1,300 youths across the Northern Region who
were skilled in agriculture and agribusiness-related areas.
Distribution of the kits which are valued at over
three billion shillings was held at the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre
(NUYDC) in Labora, Omoro district. They were supported by the Office of the Prime
Minister under the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) Youth
Skilling Programme (YSP) supported by the European Union.
Mayanja Gonzaga, the Commissioner of Monitoring
and Evaluation in the Office of the Prime Minister said that each of the items
which include modern farm equipment and value addition is valued at least one
million shillings.
Gonzaga said that the beneficiaries should not be
tempted to sell off the equipment to make quick money but rather use them
properly with the skills they acquired in order to create jobs, become
self-employed and bring more Ugandans into the money economy.
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Kwiyucwiny urged the youth to stick to their
project to eradicate poverty and become financially resilient and independent.
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Douglas Peter Okello Okao, the LCV Chairperson Omoro advised the youth to be financially supported under the
different government projects including the Parish Development Model (PDM) so
that they can have startup capital for their projects.
The youth underwent three months of theoretical
and practical skills from the eight Technical Vocational Education Training
Institutes (TVETs).
Some of the beneficiaries who received the
training and start-up kits said that their lives have been transformed
economically.
They promised to put the items to good use for their development
through creating employment.
Alfred Odur from Pader district and Gloria Akello
from Gulu district say they have been able to establish nursery beds and
poultry farms respectively, and now earning big from their businesses.
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The Head of the European Union Delegation to
Uganda, Ambassador Jan Sadek, said that the European Union is
delighted to work with OPM to implement such an important programme. "Offering
opportunities to young Ugandans to gain crucial skills in the agriculture
sector will have a direct impact on their employability, income and
livelihoods. I trust that they will become role models for other young people
who will benefit from their acquired knowledge," he said.
The TVETs include ADRAA Agricultural College,
Amelo Technical College, Lokopio Technical Institute, Amugu Agro Institute,
Nakapiripirit Technical Institute, Kotido Technical Institute, Ave Maria
Vocational Training, and Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre.
TVET was awarded a grant contract of
approximately Euros 50,000 approximately 220 million Uganda shillings to
conduct skills development and training programmes in areas such as vegetable
farming, beekeeping, poultry, piggery, agro-input supply management, tree
nursery operation, carpentry and joinery, solar repair and animal health
management.
Emmy Daniel Ojara
Freelancer