Museveni unveils major infrastructure, youth training hub in Kabale

President Museveni on Friday launched two key projects in Kabale District, aimed at boosting both infrastructure and youth employment.

The projects, a road upgrade in Kabale Municipality and the Kigezi Industrial Skilling Hub, are set to spur economic growth and provide long-term benefits to the region, according to government.

The road development, funded under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Additional Funding (AD), saw the completion of three key roads in Kabale Municipality at a cost of Shs21.72 billion.

These include Bwankosa Road, which connects Nyerere Avenue to the Kabale shopping center, Bushekwire Road, linking the shopping center to the main Kabale Road, and a 2.49 km stretch that connects the Kabale Diocesan Headquarters to the Kabale-Mbarara Highway.

At the commissioning ceremony at Rushoroza Cathedral, Museveni emphasized that while roads are vital for development, they alone cannot solve poverty.

“If road infrastructure brings development, where do people crippled with poverty come from?” he asked, urging locals to focus on income generation alongside infrastructure development. He also noted that Shs 2 trillion is allocated annually to the Parish Development Model (PDM), a program designed to enhance household incomes.

The roads have already had a positive impact on local business, particularly along Bushekwire and Bwankosa roads, where traders now operate until midnight, fostering economic transformation.

Mayor Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha commended the infrastructure, saying it had significantly improved the town’s appeal, bringing Kabale closer to city status.

In a related initiative, President Museveni also commissioned the Kigezi Industrial Skilling Hub in Kamuganguzi Sub-county.

The hub, designed to equip youth with practical skills for self-employment, currently trains 240 learners per semester in fields such as carpentry, welding, tailoring, and agriculture.

With overwhelming demand for spots, plans to expand enrollment to 500 learners were welcomed by the president.

The hub also features practical demonstrations, including a banana and coffee plantation, fish farming, and a dairy farm, providing hands-on experience for students. The president further supported the initiative by donating Shs 10 million to four of the hub's top graduates.

Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives David Bahati praised the establishment of the hub in his constituency and encouraged the youth of Kigezi to take full advantage of the opportunities it provides. "This will help in job creation and self-employment," Bahati said.

Local leaders who spoke to Monitor said both projects reflect government’s commitment to enhancing regional infrastructure and skill development as pathways to greater prosperity for the people of Kabale.

Museveni on Friday concluded his Parish Development Model (PDM) zonal tours in Kigezi, where he has been since February 12.