The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Ntungamo, Mr. George Bakunda has challenged Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and development partners to include life skills in their packages as an effort to ease the country from the burden of unemployment.
RDC Bakunda says that skilling Ugandans is the way to go because it will help the general public to eradicate poverty at household level. He ssys that when many people are living under the poverty line, it will be a big burden to the country thus retarding development in families and the communities at large.
Bakunda made the remarks on Saturday during the tool kits hand over and the phase out of a five year USAID program under Sustainable Outcomes for Children and Youth (SOCY) in Central and Western Uganda held in the District Council Hall.
He hailed the Ankole Private Sector for training youth vocational skills and equipping them with starting tools.
The program was aimed at improving the health, nutrition, education and psychosocial wellbeing of vulnerable children in districts of Bushenyi, Kazo, Kiruhura, Ntungamo and Ibanda.
Since June 2016 the program was implemented in sub-counties of Ihunga, Kibatsi, Ngoma, Nyabihoko, Rweikiniro, Bwongyera, Rubaare, Ntungamo, Kayonza, Rubaare Town Council, Itojo and Central Division.
The Ntungamo District Chairperson Dennis Singahache commended the program for supplementing government efforts of skilling Uganda in relation to job creation.
Mr. Singahache asked the beneficiaries to be creative and innovative without wasting time if they are to be valuable in the community.
The Executive Director Ankole Private Sector, Mr. Deogratius Twinomuhangi cautioned parents to own the kits given to their children rather than selling them saying that they risk being arrested.
The District Community Officer Mr. John Turyatunga asked beneficiaries to be good examples and aim higher for greater horizons.
The Project has trained 315 beneficiaries in cottage industrial skills, 1,353 households established back yard gardens and supported 145 youth in Ntungamo District with apprenticeship skills in various trades including tailoring, motorcycles mechanics, welding, hair dressing and cutting and 16 youths were supported with startup kits.
Present were Mr. Israel Amanya, the Project Manager SOCY project among others.
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