President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned the newly constructed Kigo Carpentry Work and Skilling Centre in Kigo-Mutungo, Ndejje Parish, Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality, a move aimed at boosting youth employment and enhancing the local economy.
The multi-billion-shilling facility, constructed by State House was established to support over 580 carpenters who were previously operating along the Nsambya roadside. The facility is fully equipped with modern machinery for timber processing and metal fabrication, offering a professional workspace to artisans who previously lacked access to such infrastructure.
President Museveni said the centre was constructed in response to a request made by the carpenters’ association in 2022.
He called on the group to form a legally registered trading company to manage the facility efficiently and benefit from government procurement opportunities.
“I am instructing all government agencies to begin purchasing furniture from this facility once your company is properly organized,” President Museveni said.
The President, who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, also extended various various financial donations to several groups amounting to Shs913 a financial package amounting to over Shs900 million to further strengthen operation.
He donated Shs500 million for the Kigo Carpenters SACCO, Shs300 million towards the construction of Kigo Mosque, Shs50 million for the Kigo Sheikhs SACCO and Shs5 million to buy two cows for the carpenters’ celebration.
The President further donated Shs24 million each to the LC1 chairperson of Kigo village and the NRM village chairperson, Shs10 million to St. Ponsiano Primary School and Shs24 million for the local leaders to purchase a tricycle to ease their movement while mobilizing locals to embrace wealth creation programs.
The President also inspected ongoing works on the 8.1-kilometre Salama–Munyonyo Road, which is part of a larger project to add 929 kilometres of tarmac roads across Kampala City. The road works are aimed at improving transport infrastructure to support trade and economic activity in the city.
Museveni urged residents of Kampala to make use of the upgraded infrastructure for wealth creation, adding that such investments are intended to stimulate local enterprise and improve livelihoods.
Currently, Kampala boasts over 1,200 kilometres of paved roads, and the additional 929 kilometres under construction are expected to significantly boost connectivity and reduce transport costs within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
President Museveni is currently on a tour of the Greater Kampala region to assess the implementation of government wealth creation programs, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the EMYOOGA initiative.
These programs are designed to uplift households from subsistence to commercial production through organized community-based financing and skilling.
