By Solomon Hamala
IGANGA
Over 200 teenage girls in Iganga district who dropped out of school during the Covid-19 lockdown have graduated in vocational skills courtesy of Global Fund for HIV.
The function was held at Bunyiiro Church of Uganda Primary School in Nawaningi Sub County yesterday 15th September 2022.
The money was passed through TASO and Uganda Development Health Associates-UDHA and targeted to economically empower girls and young mothers who dropped out of school due to the effects of Covid 19.
The beneficiaries who also received certificates from the Directorate of Industrial Training-DIT, are mainly primary and secondary dropouts and were selected from Bulamagi and Nawaningi sub counties respectively.
These were separately trained at Prime Vocational Institute and Family Concept Center in Iganga Town.
The Executive Director for Prime Vocational Institute, Michael Bazira said they have imparted skills which can help the beneficiaries fend for themselves at all times.
“These can now economically sustain themselves because they are empowered with desired skills,” he said further calling on parents to embrace the importance of vocational education for a better future.
The function was presided over by the RDC Iganga, Wandera Sadra. Sadara however warned parents who allow their children especially boys to skip schooling for sugarcane cutting and sports betting in town saying that their days are numbered.
“Am soon launching an operation and whoever will be caught will be arrested together with their parents. UPE, USE and such free vocational training have been extended but you can’t make its use,” the RDC said.
The LC5 chairman Ezra Gabula said in support of the vocational trainings, he will sweet talk Nawaningi sub county leadership to provide land for the construction of a vocational institute to support such children and mothers who drop out of school.
Naigaga Amina and Namulondo Hasifa who dropped out of primary Five and Six respectively applauded TASO and UDHA for the training and the startup tools like tailoring machines, hair dress machines among others which they were given free of charge.
