KAMPALA, Uganda: Over 10,000 mechanics and garage owners from Kampala Metropolitan are set to meet President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in a high-level interaction aimed at expanding their businesses and improving their livelihoods.
The meeting will take place on Sunday, 28th December, at Kololo Airstrip, and has been confirmed by Commissioner Hellen Seku of the National Patriotism Corps.
According to Commissioner Seku, the engagement will provide a platform for mechanics and garage operators to openly discuss the challenges they face in their work. Key areas of focus will include financial literacy, money management, patriotism, health awareness, and access to government programs.
She noted that many mechanics lack heavy and modern working tools required to fully utilize their skills and have therefore appealed for government intervention through the President.
For the past one month, Commissioner Seku has been meeting mechanics from the five divisions of Kampala—Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye, Nakawa, and Central Division to understand their challenges. During these engagements, the mechanics collectively requested a direct interaction with the President.
“The meeting will give participants an opportunity to discuss their challenges and explore solutions together,” Seku said. “It will also offer a platform for them to interact and exchange ideas ideologically, economically, financially, and in terms of wealth creation.”
She emphasized that the meeting is not a political campaign rally, but rather a structured interaction involving mechanics, garage owners, and a few associates accompanying them. Most of the participants are part of the informal sector and have received skills training but face obstacles in growing their businesses.
The interaction will also assess the participants’ awareness of existing government programs and how they can benefit from them. Commissioner Seku explained that efforts will be made to organize the mechanics into more structured groups to ease registration and meet requirements for accessing government support.
Patriotism training will also be a key component of the meeting. Commissioner Seku stressed the importance of loving one’s country and community.
“In whatever we do, patriotism must be at the forefront. Loving our country helps us love our neighbours and value our work,” she said.
Financial literacy will take centre stage, with emphasis on developing a culture of saving, regardless of income level, to help individuals plan for the future.
Health sensitisation will also be addressed, particularly on preventing diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tackling mental health challenges linked to substance abuse. Commissioner Seku revealed that during her visits to garages around Kampala, she observed that some mechanics were under the influence of drugs such as marijuana and alcohol.
“These are young people who need guidance, ideological orientation, and support if they are to fully benefit from government programs,” she noted.
The mechanics will come from the Kampala Metropolitan Area, including Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi districts, with plans to extend similar engagements to mechanics and garage owners across the country as part of the broader wealth creation campaign.
Participants are expected to start arriving at 8:00 a.m., and the event will also feature live performances by popular musicians, including Mulwana Patrick, also known as Alien Skin.
