Teenage mothers out shine boys in skilling programme
Narrating their experience during the graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 5, 2025, the young girls expressed their excitement, saying the training has opened up their minds for greater opportunities.
From left, Stanbic's Odonga, Olga Biribonwa, manager public sector and Simon Opolot, manger Tororo branch, hand over certificate to a graduate. (Credit: Faustine Odeke)
By Faustine Odeke
Journalists @New Vision
Teenage mothers have emerged as the best in the Busitema University hands-on skilling programme that ushers them into self-reliance by starting their own business rather than seeking for employment.
Narrating their experience during the graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 5, 2025, the young girls expressed their excitement, saying the training has opened up their minds for greater opportunities.
The six-month programme sponsored by Stanbic Bank skilled 100 learners in various skills that included welding and metal fabrication, post-harvesting handling, brick laying and concrete practices, irrigation technology and innovations and automotive repairs.
The graduates were selected from the districts of Tororo, Kamuli, Busia, Soroti, Mbale and Pallisa.
Brenda Akello from Busia, who graduated in irrigation technology and innovation, said she has already established vegetable gardens and is supplying vegetables to the Busia market.
"I have already started earning money through the skills I got, and I hope to increase my production once I start earning well," she said.
Topista Kibule from Kamuli district said the training was spot on and she has already started earning money.
Doreen Anyoga said since she had earlier obtained a certificate in general agriculture, it was important for her to gain skills in irrigation so that she could go into full crop production.
Busitema University vice-chancellor Prof. Paul Waako implored the graduates to utilise the skills to uplift their own well-being since they will be able to get a steady income for the rest of their lives.
Waako said the university faculty of engineering is making adjustments by developing vocational training institutes to suit the current government focus on skilling Ugandans.
Diana Odonga, the Stanbic Bank manager corporate social investments, encouraged the graduates to open up business accounts to enable them to apply for start-up funds since some of them don’t have any capital.
Odonga said the banks injected shillings 50 million for the training and have yet to inject another 30 million for environmental conservation through tree planting. She was pleased with the completion rate of 97 per cent.