Have you considered a vocation in making fishing accessories?

Mutama also notes that the course is meant to give them skills in fisheries management and technology, be able to raise fish to the market size, give them skills of pond construction, rearing fish using the tank system, the new technology of cage culture in addition to fish value addition. Courtesy photo

What you need to know:

  • If you are looking for a vocational course that will usher you into the world of boats, water and fish, then it is time to check out the little talked about fisheries institute.
  • Mutama also notes that the course is meant to give them skills in fisheries management and technology, be able to raise fish to the market size, give them skills of pond construction, rearing fish using the tank system, the new technology of cage culture in addition to fish value addition.

For one who has explored options in vocational and technical training, have you considered a course in boat building technology? For students seeking to offer science-related hands on skills courses that is one option to look at.

Hellen Naomi Amongin is a second year student and the only girl pursuing a certificate in Boat Building and Marine Mechanics at the Fisheries Training Institute, Entebbe, the only institute in Uganda offering the course.

Though very technical and male dominated, Amongin has always had the interest in doing it. “I wanted to become a marine engineer, I just loved being that, and so I took interest in the course. To me, this is just the beginning of that journey, so I plan to upgrade to a diploma after my certificate in pursuit of my passion,” she says.

“So far, I am gaining skills such as building a boat from scratch, which comes with sketching, requiring technical drawing skills, then building it through the different levels and boat repairing and maintenance, among others,” she notes adding that the course is also marketable because there are only a few people with professional skills and knowledge.

The benefit of having technical skills is that they can utilise the skills to better yourself as well as your community,”Amongin says.

Diversification
For Richard Okot Omona, a final year Diploma student in Boat Building and Marine Mechanics, gaining various skills aside from just building boats has been a plus for him.
“What majorly interested me is that the course is not a very popular one to many in the country and it is also very hands on.

This made me acknowledge that on completing the course, I have many opportunities to work with Uganda National Roads Authority, for instance, on landing sites, ferries, other water vessels, repair boats, tourism companies, have a boat-making workshop or work for a boat building company even outside Uganda, which work very few people can do,” he explains.

“In addition to boat building, one is given carpentry skills so they can make tables, beds, chairs, among others,” Omona adds.
In fact Moses Ebiru, an assistant lecturer in Practical and Constructional Boat Building, notes that whereas the boat production unit is used as a training ground for students, it is also used to build boats for commercial purposes. “Students are also taught how to build fiber wooden boats,” he says.

Agricultural skills
And if one needs to learn to rear fish, then a Diploma in Integrated Aquaculture and Agriculture could well take care of your needs such as John Mutama, a first year student, pursuing the course. “When you have a small piece of land for example, you can operate an aqua system, introduce your animals on the same piece but also your crops so these three are interdependent,” he says.

As a student, he understands that Uganda is an agricultural economy and thus, having skills in such a large sector is of much benefit to youth. “After studying, I am looking at creating my own enterprise where I will be able to employ some youth in those different areas,” he says.

Though a Senior Six leaver, Mutama has always hoped he would study a course that helps one create jobs. “For example in agriculture, I do not need to go looking for jobs. I will just go back to Sironko, my home district, and start up my own enterprise. Students and the public should stop thinking that these courses are for academic dwarfs,” he advises.

Hotbed of opportunities
Mutama also notes that the course is meant to give them skills in fisheries management and technology, be able to raise fish to the market size, give them skills of pond construction, rearing fish using the tank system, the new technology of cage culture in addition to fish value addition.

Similarly, Irene Nakilya, a first year Diploma in Agriculture and Aquaculture student, appreciates the fact that this course gives a student platform to do a number of things.
“If I fail at fish farming, I can rear animals and if I cannot do that, I can go into crop growing. In addition, one can immediately put in practice what they learn without necessarily waiting for the course to end,” she notes.