Uganda’s Lands Minister, Judith Nabakooba, has told young people graduating from the Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute (URDT-I) to use the skills they have gained to start small businesses and help their communities grow.
Speaking at the third graduation ceremony held at Ssingo County headquarters in Mityana Municipality on April 29, Nabakooba urged the youth not to waste the knowledge they have received.
“You now have the skills many others wish they had. Go back to your communities and do something with them. That’s how you will benefit,” she said.
This year, 933 students graduated in practical courses like shoe making, bakery, tailoring, farming, hairdressing, events management, and fashion and design. Others completed agricultural courses such as piggery, fish farming, poultry keeping, and tree nursery operations.
Nabakooba praised URDT and encouraged graduates to work together in groups and register savings and credit cooperatives (Saccos). She promised to lobby the government for funding to help them start businesses.
“The certificate you’ve earned today is a beginning. With hard work, you can study further, even up to a PhD level. Chase your dreams while you are still young and strong,” she said.
Graduates shared inspiring stories of how their lives have changed. One of them, Oliver Nakitto from Mityana Municipality, used to be a housewife who depended on her husband. But after joining URDT, she started her own piggery with over 40 pigs.
“I now make my own animal feed and medicine. My family is doing well, and I dream of becoming one of the biggest farmers in Mityana,” Nakitto said. She asked for financial support to grow her business but expressed worry over the rising prices of maize brand used in feeds.
Another success story is Maria Gorreth Nampuuma, trained in shoe making. She started her business with only Shs50,000 and now makes and sells different kinds of shoes including crafts, school shoes, and crocheted designs.
“Soon, I will build a small shop at home to sell my shoes. This training has changed my life,” she said proudly.
Male youth also shared how the institute has kept them away from crime and drugs. Matia Kabanda from Busunju, who trained in welding, now makes tents, windows, and charcoal stoves.
“Before this, many youth were idle, riding boda bodas or stealing. But now we are skilled and earning,” Kabanda said.
URDT Founder Calls for More Support
Dr Mwalimu Musheshe, the founder of URDT, said he started the institute to help the jobless, especially youth and mothers, to learn skills that would improve their lives. URDT operates in 20 districts and four refugee camps, with support from Mastercard Foundation.
Dr Musheshe asked the government to help build a technological hub in the area for better training, especially in tailoring where students still use paper drawings.
“We want our students to use computers and modern tools to create designs that compete internationally,” he explained.
He also called on the government to prioritize URDT graduates when giving out support under programs like the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and Youth Livelihood Program.
“If these youth get startup capital, they will not only help themselves but also transform their communities,” he said.
As the ceremony ended, it was clear that URDT is not just giving out certificates—it’s giving people a new chance at life.
