Nabakooba tips URDT Institute graduates on job creation and saving culture

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Lands Minister, Judith Nabakooba has urged graduates from the Uganda Rural Development and Training Program Institute (URDT-I) in Mityana district to use the different skills and knowledge acquired to create their own jobs.

She was on Tuesday (April 29) presiding over the third URDT-I’s graduation ceremony at Ssingo County headquarters in Busimbi Division, Mityana Municipality.

The minister said youth can only benefit from the skills acquired if they go back to their communities and get something to do.

“You have a chance to get these skills when you are still young. Many people did not get that chance. Use this opportunity well to change your lives and those of your communities,” she told the 933 graduates.

(Courtesy photo)

The minister also advised graduates to form groups and register Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations such that she can lobby for them funds from the Government.

In the third cohort, 933 students graduated in shoe making, bakery, tailoring, farming, hair dressing, events management and fashion and design. Other courses included agriculture programmes such as piggery, fish farming, poultry, and tree nursery operation, among others.

“The beauty with the certificate you are getting today is that you can use it to upgrade slowly up to PhD level. If you are committed, you can accomplish this journey. Pursue your dreams because you are young and energetic,” Nabakooba said, according to a media release from her office.

URDT Institute was founded by Dr Mwalimu Musheshe, and it operates in 20 districts across the country. It partnered with Mastercard Foundation to skill up youth in Mityana and other beneficiary districts.

Dr Mwalimu Musheshe, who is the co-founder of the institute, said they founded it to help youth, mothers and idle men to acquire skills and create job opportunities.

He asked the government to support the institute with a technological hub in the area that can help in training students.

“We want to move away from using local designs drawn on papers during the tailoring course, to using computers to make up to date designs on the international market,” he said.

Dr Musheshe also asked the Government to give these trained youths priority when it comes to government programs such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and Youth Livelihood Program.

He said if they are given this money, they will be able to get startup capital in their respective fields.



Beneficiaries

Oliver Nakitto, a housewife in Mityana Municipality, does not regret joining the URDT Institute. She has since improved her piggery project.

“I learnt how to add value to animal feeds. I make my own organic medicine for pigs and livestock.

We have 40 pigs. My family is doing well, and in the next few years, I am hopeful that I will be a big farmer in Mityana,” she revealed.

Maria Gorreth Nampuuma, who was trained in shoe making, is breaking barriers with her business and currently supplies people in her local community.

“I started the business with only sh50,000 but it has now grown and very soon I am building a small shop at home where I will be vending those shoes from,” she said.

Male youth applauded URDT and MasterCard Foundation for the opportunity. They said before this opportunity, many of them were lying idle, engaging in unscrupulous activities.

Matia Kabanda, a resident of Busunju, trained in welding, can now make tents, windows, doors and metallic charcoal stoves.

“Youth in this area were idle since they had dropped out of school. Many were in boda boda riding, stealing and abusing drugs but they have now transformed,” he appreciated.