By Aggrey Baba
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has advised artisans and small business owners to stop working alone and instead form family, or group-owned companies, which would help them build wealth together, ensure continuity, and grow across generations.
The President, who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education, Janet Kataaha Museveni, gave the advice while visiting the Kigo Carpentry and Skilling Centre in Kigo Mutungo, Ndejje Parish, Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality, in Wakiso District. The centre has 588 members and offers skills training in carpentry, metal work, tailoring, and weaving.
Before coming to the centre, the President toured the ongoing road construction on Salaama Road.
While speaking to the artisans, the President encouraged them to stop working as individuals and instead form a company to manage land and resources better.
“I want to know who the owner is. You people should form a company and work as a team. Working alone is risky. I taught the Banyankore not to divide land when it’s time to inherit. Stay united and work as a family,” he said.
He explained that dividing land leads to confusion and slow development, giving an example of his own family, saying he and Maama Janet formed a family company where everyone contributes and earns from the profits.
“Europeans grew by working as families in companies. That’s how they developed. Let’s leave backward methods and do the same,” he said.
To support the centre, Museveni promised to provide more equipment and inject UGX 500 million into their SACCO to boost production and help them buy raw materials. He also promised to improve the road to the centre so buyers can access it easily.
“What matters most is learning how to work together. Once you master that, everything else becomes easier,” he said.
He asked Hon. Balaam Barugahara, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, to sit with the leaders of the centre and come up with a clear plan on ownership, user fees, and training to keep the centre running sustainably.
“You’re now training people for free, but that can’t continue. You need sponsors to pay fees. You’re acting like donors yet it’s too early for that. Let’s come up with a system that benefits both learners and trainers,” Museveni added.
Kampala Minister Hajjat Minsa Kabanda also thanked the President and First Lady for always supporting youth skilling projects.
“I remember how bad life was for these people in Nsambya. Your help changed everything,” she said.
Mr. Ivan Ainebyoona, Chairperson of the centre, appreciated the President for standing by them through tough times.
“When it rained or the sun was too much, we used to suffer. But now, we work with dignity, and we are grateful. History will remember you,” Ainebyoona said, adding that their work is not political, but focused on self-reliance.
The centre’s Secretary General, Mr. Majid Kigundu, emotionally shared how their journey began in 2016 when desperate carpenters blocked the President’s convoy in Munyonyo.
“We shared our story. Life in Nsambya was hard. KCCA was always chasing us. You listened, gave us machines, UGX 100 million for our SACCO, and even sold your cows to buy us this land,” he said, adding that the centre is now paying taxes, training young people, and even making beds for the Special Forces Command.
He asked the President to implement a ban on exporting raw timber so they can add value here in Uganda.
“We have the designs. Let people support us here instead of sending raw timber abroad,” he said.
Maama Janet also promised to encourage schools and government agencies to buy products made by the centre.
The Kigo Carpentry and Skilling Centre started out of hardship and determination. In 2016, a group of struggling artisans in Nsambya blocked President Museveni’s convoy as he returned from Munyonyo, asking for help. They had been repeatedly evicted by KCCA and had no stable workplace.
The President responded by visiting them later that year, giving them modern machines and UGX 100 million for their SACCO. He even bought them land in Kigo, which has since become a thriving centre with 588 skilled workers.
Also present at the event were Hon. Balaam Barugahara, KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, Deputy Executive Director Mr. Benon Kigenyi, NRM Mobilization Director Rosemary Nansubuga Sseninde, and State House Comptroller Ms. Jane Barekye. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
