150 teen mothers graduate in vocational studies in Sironko 

At least 150 school girls who became pregnant during the COVID-19 lockdown have graduated from St Catherine Vocational School in Sironko district, eastern Uganda.

The girls, all aged below 18 are from various sub-counties in Sironko and completed vocational training. The majority received bursaries from Budadiri East constituency MP Isaiah Sasaga Wanzira.

Umar Kiswiriri, qualifications officer in the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) at the ministry of Education and Sports, who was the chief guest, urged parents to motivate their children to pursue vocational courses. 

He noted that while the government cannot employ all these youths, it can attract investors to establish factories that could provide employment opportunities. He also argued that government programs like the Youth Livelihood Program (YLP) and the Parish Development Model (PDM) can offer capital for these youths to start their businesses. 

Wanzira noted that 99 per cent of youths jostle for the few white-collar jobs. Instead, he proposed the construction of more vocational schools and the enhancement of existing ones to attract more youths to enroll. 

Wanzira encouraged the graduates to form groups, pledging to support each group with Shs 500,000 and fostering a collaborative environment for their future endeavors. 

Evelyn Nafula, a councilor representing Kama town council in Sironko district urged fellow parents to promote vocational courses. She explained that these courses empower graduates to initiate their businesses rather than solely seeking employment, potentially even becoming employers themselves.

Catherine Nabuzale, a graduate in tailoring, expressed her joy, stating her intention to start sewing clothes to earn income and support her child.