Yesterday,a group of 125 students from Kabale University were immersed in a transformative training session, courtesy of the Innovation Village Project. With unemployment rates on the rise in Uganda, this initiative aimed to equip these students with essential skills and innovative ideas to enhance their livelihoods.

Spearheaded by the Innovative Village Project, in collaboration with partners such as Redcross, Kigezi Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Limited, and the Mastercard Foundation, the one-day program unfolded in the picturesque Kigezi region. The students, ranging from 17 to 35 years old, were immersed in a diverse array of practical skills, spanning poultry farming, piggery management, confectionery baking, and value addition ventures like yogurt and crisps production.

Immaculate Kyomugisha, both a student of Agriculture in Land Use Management at Kabale University and a trainer for the project, emphasized the significance of this endeavor. She stressed that the primary goal was to empower the youth of Kigezi with the knowledge and tools necessary to carve out their own paths in the face of mounting unemployment challenges in the country.

As the training concluded, participants eagerly awaited the next step: the provision of startup capital and essential equipment. Within a week, they would be equipped to translate their newfound expertise into tangible enterprises, thus catalyzing a wave of economic empowerment in their communities.