Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director Jennifer Musisi has said investing in the youth is one of the greatest pro-growth strategies a country can do.
“Achieving strong economic growth calls for investment in development, as well as equipping the youth with life and technical skills, to become entrepreneurs and positive influencers of society,” Musisi told the youth at the Kabalagala Youth Centre, recently.
Musisi said KCCA was working with partners, such as the UN Habitat and Plan International, to improve the lives of the young people and give them an edge in the labour market. With funding Plan International, she said they were setting up an innovations hub to train the youth in robotics, animation, business incubation, garbage recycling, videography, as well as in making shoes, wallets and belts.
After training, the youth will be encouraged to form groups in order to access government funding through the Community Driven Development (CDD), Youth Livelihood Programme and KCCA Cente Loan, among others.
Currently, the centre trains young people in tailoring, electrical installation, hair dressing, shoemaking and cosmetology. According to KCCA, the trainings are free and target the youth in Kampala, aged between 18 and 35 years.
Musisi, has however, called on partners to support the skilling young people, through financing, to help improve their livelihoods.
Background of youth centre
Run by the KCCA gender and community services directorate, the centre has benefitted 910 youth, who engaged in the training programmes since its inception last year.
Currently, the centre has registered 1,214, of which 581 are receiving training in business and life skills and 329 in vocational skills. The centre was constructed with funding from the UN Habitat.
Beneficiaries speak out
The youth who have benefitted from the project say after their training, they can start their own businesses, if they get funding.
“I plan to open a salon since I have acquired skills at this centre,” Annet, one of the students, said.
Other KCCA projects
KCCA set up the Kyanja Agricultural Resource Centre, to train farmers and community members in modern urban farming. The centre is open to the public on Wednesday from 2:00pm-5:00pm and on Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm.
Free study tours in piggery farming, poultry, aquaculture, green house and backyard vegetable farming are conducted by experts. The city authority also has a youth employment bureau, which recruits the youth and equips them with practical ICT skills so that they can compete in a labour market, where ICT skills are a prerequisite for employment. They are later awarded certificates.