By Emmanuel Olinga
SOROTI CITY
The Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl/Boy Child (PISGBC), which presently gives young Ugandans vocational skills in Soroti (Eastern Region), has been urged by the Women Catholic Apostolate (CWA) to be expanded by the government.
This initiative would allow women at the grassroots level to become economically empowered and resourceful, but it would only be available to young people.
The program, which was started to address the high rate of teenage unemployment, especially among those without formal education, teaches participants how to make clothes, knit, bake goods, do their own hair, and weave.
Agnes Todi Angarat, a CWA committee member from the Soroti Catholic Diocese, stated that when these skills are offered as viable occupations, it reduces vulnerability to crime and poverty.
Angarat made this remarks at the end of a five-day conference that began on Monday, May 5, 2025 and ended on Friday, May 9, 2025, and was attended by over 2,500 women from 31 churches affiliated with the Catholic Women Apostolic (CWA) association at St. Stephen Catholic Parish in Katakwi Town Council, with the theme “Remaining in the Love of God.”
According to Angarat, although the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child is lowering unemployment, boosting entrepreneurship, and empowering youngsters to build sustainable futures, women must also be trained with practical skills.
In her call for supporting skills for women at all levels, she cites existing government initiatives such as Parish Development Model PDM, Emyooga, where women are clearly performing effectively.
Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Katakwi, Vincent Xaviour Okwii, states that despite the need for such an initiative, the government is dedicated to supporting the skilling program.
Maj. Rtd. Jessica Rose Alupo Epel, Vice President, pushed women to use government funding properly. She did, however, guarantee absolute support for the CWA women’s group with He-goats, but she also challenged women to continue working hard in families to combat poverty at the household level.
The Vice President highlighted that many recipients, particularly women from poor backgrounds, have successfully launched enterprises or found employment, contributing to the well-being of their communities.
