Busoga Kingdom celebrates the graduation of 14,000 individuals in vocational skills.

The successful graduation of these individuals now brings the total number of youth trained to 22,000 as part of the 5-year program's goal of reaching 50,000 beneficiaries. This initiative primarily focuses on school dropouts, adolescent mothers, and vulnerable children.

During the third graduation ceremony held in partnership with the Kisoboka Skilling Busoga Project at Budhumbula Palace, His Majesty the Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, emphasized that equipping young people with skills is a pathway to making them productive and self-reliant contributors to the economy.

He further pledged the continued support of Busoga Kingdom in collaboration with the government to skill the youth and enhance the overall quality of the labor force. His Majesty proposed the establishment of chiefdom vocational hubs and collective bargaining centers to facilitate this effort.

The Kyabazinga highlighted that these skilled graduates can pool their resources, access tools, and engage in various businesses, including sewing school uniforms.

Mr. Isaac Imaka, CEO of the Gabula Royal Foundation, commended the Kingdom for its foresight and capacity-building initiatives, underscoring the broad impact of vocational and skills training.

Sulait Kyepa, the Programmes Manager of Kisoboka Skilling Busoga, urged the government and other sponsors to recognize the Level One qualification achieved by the graduates, as it is equivalent to a Senior Four certificate. He explained that upon completing Level Two, they would be eligible to vie for Parliament since it equates to an Advanced Level certificate.

First Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Rebecca Kadaga, who donated 100 sewing machines, which were handed over to the Kyabazinga, cautioned the youth against complacency and reckless lifestyles, emphasizing the importance of using their newly acquired skills for personal and societal betterment.