The Minister of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, has urged local authorities in Kampala to recommend only the underprivileged children from the five divisions of the city for free training at the skilling centers under the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl/Boy Child (PISGBC) project.

She said this will give the disadvantaged and vulnerable children from Kampala the opportunity to obtain skills that will pull them out of the bad habits of criminality, being on the streets as well as empower them economically.

“As the Minister for Kampala, I want these children to get employment. So, LCs ensure that you approve only children from Kampala, not those from far places like Bundibugyo, Kasese and others. There are zonal Industrial hubs that President Yoweri Museveni established in those areas that they can take advantage of,” she said.

Kabanda was Tuesday speaking as the Guest of Honor at the showcasing ceremony of products made by the once ghetto girls and boys at Wabigalo Skilling Center in Makindye Division.

Kabanda revealed that President Yoweri Museveni pledged to open up more skilling centers in Kampala since the population keeps on growing.

The Minister was happy to see the beneficiaries producing several quality products within a short time of their training and strongly advised them never to slide back into bad habits of alcoholism, drugs and going to the streets.

“In 6 months only, these children are able to acquire skills for self-employment. People with degrees and diplomas don’t have jobs but these children after being skilled now have jobs,” she said.

Wabigalo Skilling Center that opened for training in 2019 had its operations interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic that same year but resumed skilling the youth in 2022.

Skills offered at the center free of charge include creative Science-handling electronics, T.V and Computer repairs, Kitchen hardware repairs, classic leather bags and shoe making, domestic electrical installations, Plumbing, Rainwater harvesting for domestic use-and crop irrigation.

The Special Presidential Assistant on Education and Skilling also the Head of the skilling project, Dr. Faith Katana Mirembe reiterated her call to Ugandans in particular and the people of Africa in general the importance of value addition to end the concept of being only consumers.

The Administrator of Wabigalo Skilling Center Ms. Jemimah Babirye thanked President Museveni, State House Comptroller Ms. Jane Barekye, Dr. Katana and the State House Management Team for supporting the project.