Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament, retired Brigadier General Emmanuel Rwashande, has purchased three acres of land worth Shs 45 million for the establishment of a vocational school aimed at equipping young people with practical skills and reducing school dropout rates in the area.
The land, located in Lwemibu B Village, Lwemiyaga, Sembabule District, has been secured to pave the way for the proposed construction of a government vocational training institution that will equip young people with technical and hands-on skills to improve their employment prospects.
Rwashande handed over Shs 45 million for the purchase of the land after the sale agreement was read to residents and local leaders, who subsequently endorsed the transaction.
The agreement was read by Umar Kalanzi before community members signed it, formalising the transaction.
Speaking during the handover, Rwashande said the initiative was part of his efforts to address youth unemployment by providing young people with opportunities to acquire practical skills that could enable them to become self-reliant.
He said the proposed vocational school would equip learners with skills to establish their own businesses rather than depend solely on the limited employment opportunities available in the job market.
“The aim is to fight unemployment in this community. Young people who train at this institution will acquire practical skills that can enable them to create their own jobs instead of spending years searching for employment,” Rwashande said.
He explained that the land had been purchased specifically to enable the government to establish the institution and provide young people with an opportunity to pursue vocational education.
Local leaders and residents welcomed the development, saying the proposed school could help address the growing number of children dropping out of school because their families cannot afford the cost of education.
They said many young people in the area leave school at an early age without acquiring the skills needed to earn a living, leaving them vulnerable to unemployment.
The residents expressed optimism that the proposed institution would give such young people an opportunity to acquire practical skills and become economically independent.
They added that the school would benefit families struggling to meet the costs of sending their children to schools outside their communities.
Annette Namawejje, one of the residents who welcomed the initiative, said the proposed institution would give children in the area another opportunity to pursue education and acquire practical skills, even when their families cannot afford conventional schooling.
Local leaders, including councillor Benon Atwine, also welcomed the initiative, saying vocational training could contribute to community development by equipping young people with skills relevant to the job market.
Rwashande revealed that he had initially planned to use the land to construct a health facility. However, he said disputes surrounding the proposed site had resulted in the facility being relocated to Kashunga Village.
He said the decision to allocate the land for a vocational school was intended to address another pressing need in the community, particularly the high number of young people leaving school without employable skills.
Rwashande also called on residents of Lwemiyaga to put aside political differences and focus on development initiatives that could improve their livelihoods.
He urged community members not to allow political disagreements to undermine cooperation, saying development should remain a priority regardless of political affiliation.
The legislator encouraged residents to concentrate on improving their communities and reserve political competition for the appropriate electoral periods.
Rwashande further assured residents that disputes surrounding the land had been resolved, paving the way for its use for the proposed vocational school.
Nathan Bukenya, who sold the land, also confirmed that the transaction had been concluded, clearing the way for the government to consider developing the site.
The resolution of the land disputes is expected to facilitate the next steps towards establishing the institution.
Residents urged the government to prioritise the construction of the vocational school, describing the purchase of the land as an important first step towards addressing the education and employment challenges facing young people in Lwemiyaga.
They said the institution would help reduce school dropout rates by providing learners who cannot continue with conventional education an alternative pathway to acquiring practical skills.
The proposed school is also expected to support local development by equipping young people with vocational skills that could help them establish small businesses, earn incomes and contribute to the local economy.
However, the construction timeline and the government's funding arrangements for the proposed institution had not been established by the time of reporting.
For residents of Lwemiyaga, the purchase of the three acres represents an important step towards securing vocational training opportunities for young people who might otherwise leave school without the skills needed to earn a living.