The Special Presidential Assistant on Education and Skilling, who also serves as the Head of the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl/ Boy Child (PISGBC), Dr. Faith Katana Mirembe, has urged the Uganda Police Force to find a solution to domestic violence that is threatening to frustrate government’s well thought out program of skilling the youth.

Dr. Katana made the call on Monday 11th September 2023 at a ceremony where girls and boys of Wandegeya Skilling Center showcased products they have been making from the skills acquired during their six months training.

The students who are about to sit their final exams leading to the award of the recognized certificates from the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) under the Ministry of Education and Sports have been receiving free training in the areas of tailoring, weaving, hairdressing, shoemaking, embroidery as well as knitting.

Wandegeya Skilling Center was the first to be launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2017 by enrolling only girls but boys were later incorporated into the program in 2019.

Dr. Katana said some husbands and parents harass, beat or even expel from their homes spouses or daughters who seek to acquire knowledge from the skilling centers thus threatening the program.

The trainees who are soon to be passed out after their examination have undergone a process of value addition themselves and are crucial in the transformation process of the country than many of those with degrees from higher institutions of learning because skilling is a hands-on exercise.

The Wandegeya Division Police Commander, SP Hassan Hiwumbire, noted that domestic violence is on an increase not only in Uganda but worldwide.

He advised that any complaint of the same nature can be raised at the desk handling such cases at Wandegeya Police Station and pledged to take immediate action.

The Kampala Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Ms. Amina Lukanga, urged parents to enroll their children in any of the nine skilling centers located in the five divisions of Kampala as the training is offered free of charge.

The divisions include Rubaga, Nakawa, Makindye, Kawempe and Kampala Central.