By Mike Rwothomio

A cohort of 40 youths successfully completed a six-month intensive vocational training program on Friday, 24 October 2025. 

The initiative, facilitated by Zombo Rural Development Network Association (ZORUDENA), a community-based organization committed to fostering a prosperous Zombo District where every child is nurtured, every woman is empowered, and every family has equitable opportunities to thrive, culminated in a graduation ceremony at Alfa Guest House, Alangi Trading Centre.

The event drew hundreds of local residents and featured graduates, attired in professional regalia, parading confidently through the streets of Alangi Trading Centre in Alangi Sub-County, Zombo District.

This public demonstration underscored the tangible value of acquiring employable skills amid persistently high youth unemployment rates.

Training was delivered at the Alangi Youth Skilling Centre on a cost-sharing model, covering high-demand disciplines: Tailoring and Garment Cutting, Hairdressing and Cosmetology.

John Wilembe, Executive Director of ZORUDENA, addressed the graduates, praising their dedication and announcing post-training support.

“We will conduct follow-up monitoring and provide complimentary startup toolkits for salons, catering enterprises, and tailoring workshops.” Wilembe said.

He reaffirmed the organization’s ongoing commitment to tackling entrenched youth unemployment through targeted skill development.

With Zombo District’s population exceeding 300,000 (2024 Census) and recent surveys indicating a 65% youth illiteracy rate, vocational training emerges as a strategic intervention to enhance employability, reduce joblessness, and equip young people with practical competencies for sustainable livelihoods.

Wilembe emphasized ZORUDENA’s broader mandate: “We are dedicated to building youth independence by addressing multiple socio-economic barriers through skill enhancement, resource access, and market linkages.”

This aligns with ZORUDENA’s core objectives: strengthening economic resilience among women and youth, improving resource and market access, and promoting community health through preventive education, healthcare services, and sanitation improvements.

Bruno Mananu, Assistant Resident District Commissioner, urged graduates to apply their competencies productively.

“Deploy these skills toward value-added production to combat household poverty and accelerate transition into the formal money economy.” Mananu said.

Grace Oleru, Vice Chairperson of Zombo District Local Council V (representing the LC V Chairperson), commended the trainees for their commitment, discipline, and perseverance. She called on parents to procure essential operational equipment to enable effective skill deployment.

ZORUDENA’s program directly supports President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s national skilling agenda, launched via Presidential Skilling Hubs in 2017.

Thousands have since graduated with marketable trades, many transitioning into entrepreneurship and job creation—directly mitigating youth unemployment.

ZORUDENA's Graduates expressed optimism about the program’s transformative impact on financial inclusion and career prospects.

Initially focused in Paidha Town Council and Paidha Sub-County, ZORUDENA has expanded to hard-to-reach areas like Alangi to decentralize services.

Skilled youth heading to graduation.

Established in 2019, the organization has Empowered 100 children, Supported 500 families and Positively impacted 12,000 lives.

Per Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), national youth unemployment stood at 17% in 2021 and ZORUDENA’s targeted interventions represent a scalable model for reducing this metric through practical, employment-oriented training.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information