President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has once again sounded the call for Uganda’s youth to shift from casual survival tactics locally named ‘kusaka’ to structured skills development through government-supported industrial hubs.
Speaking via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Museveni emphasized the urgent need to maximize the free education offered under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programs and channel graduates into practical trades like welding, tailoring, carpentry and motor mechanics.
The President’s remarks come at a time when unemployment and underemployment among Uganda’s youth continue to rise with many resorting to informal and unstable income generating activities.
Museveni an advocate of the “money economy,” stressed that industrial skilling hubs must be central to Uganda’s economic transformation agenda particularly for young people who complete UPE and USE but lack the resources or access to higher education.
“We need more hubs focused on trades like motor mechanics and textile sales rather than ‘kusaka’,” Museveni said in his tweet, making a clear distinction between short term hustling and sustainable income generation.
Uganda has over the years launched multiple youth empowerment initiatives from Operation Wealth Creation to the Parish Development Model but the President’s renewed push signals a shift toward institutionalizing vocational training as a national development strategy.
The government has already rolled out regional industrial skilling hubs which offer free training in vocational disciplines.
According to State House reports, these hubs are equipped with modern tools and curricula aligned to market needs aiming to bridge the skills gap between Uganda’s academic system and the job market.
With the 2026 general elections looming, this renewed focus on youth empowerment through technical skilling is seen by analysts as both a policy necessity and a political calculation.
Museveni’s message resonates with Uganda’s largest demographic group, the youth who make up over 75% of the population.
Opposition however, argue that while the idea of skilling is applauded, infrastructure, outreach and quality of instruction in many hubs are still lacking.
Mueseveni has also promised to empower Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCOs) through their Districts and to address land issues.
“I have directed that SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization) funds be allocated through the District so that our hub graduates can easily access startup capital and create wealth.”
“What matters most is ensuring that our young people are trained, empowered and supported to succeed. That is how we build a prosperous Uganda Regarding the land issues, I will address that in the leaders’ meeting later today.”
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