Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Monday afternoon presided over the graduation ceremony of beneficiaries of his Girl Child Initiative at Kololo Independence Grounds in the capital, Kampala.
It was the first batch of 600 girls under the scheme.
They are girls from disadvantaged situations who were picked from all divisions in Kampala and trained for six months in various skills, empowering them to be economically self sustaining.
In June this year, Museveni launched the Presidential initiative on skilling the Girl Child. The function took place in Kampala’s Wandegeya Market. There are over 700 girl-trainees at the two facilities in Kampala (Wandegeya Market and Subway), where the project is conducted.
“This initiative, which targets the vulnerable urban girls aged 16-20 years, seeks to reduce unemployment by equipping them with skills in baking, tailoring, weaving, shoe-making and hair-dressing”, said the President during its launch.
He added that; Government will give tools and capital to all successful trainees, so that they start up small businesses which can grow to employ other people.
“I encourage girls in Kampala to embrace this initiative, attend training and acquire the skills”
“Gradually, we shall roll out more centres to other divisions so that trainees don’t incur high transport costs”, he further added.
President Museveni in addition said; in the long run, products made by these girls; like clothes should replace the second-hand garments we import from places like China.
“We shall also make shoes, beddings, bags, curtains and other garments”.
“This initiative is a breakthrough for our girls to gain wealth and also help uplift others by creating jobs when their businesses expand”, he stressed further.
