Graduates have been encouraged to leverage the skills they have acquired to generate employment opportunities within their communities.
Dr. Sheikh Hafidh Muhammad Harunah Bukenya, the second deputy Mufti of Uganda, emphasized that all young individuals who possess vocational training skills are capable of initiating their own employment ventures, thereby creating additional job opportunities and fostering community development.
He was speaking during the sixth graduation ceremony of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Tailoring School on January 22, 2025.
The event, hosted in the UMSC Conference Hall, honored the accomplishments of 26 female students who have successfully finished a one-year tailoring program.
They were awarded with certificates and tailoring machines for the best performers.
The school was established through a partnership with the Turkey-based Sena Foundation and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).
“I urge you not to sit on the skills you have acquired here. Use them as a foundation to generate earnings for your households,” he advised.
He recounted the motivating tale account of his sister, who, after completing her training as a tailor, established her own clothing brand that has consistently attracted a dedicated clientele.
Bukenya praised the ongoing collaboration between the Sena Foundation and TIKA with UMSC, which has facilitated the institution’s steady advancement since its establishment in 2017.
He also expressed his gratitude to Sheikhat Raddiyyah Namakula, the UMSC Secretary responsible for Women and Children Affairs, as well as the instructors, trainees, and their families for their contributions to the program’s success.
However, Sheikh Bukenya pledged that UMSC would intensify mobilization efforts through its structures to encourage more Muslim women to embrace vocational training.
In her address, Namakula highlighted the concerning trend of declining enrollment figures, particularly noting the reduction in student numbers attributed to competition from the Presidential Skilling Initiative, which offers similar programs at the sub-county level.
“Most would-be learners opt to join the government skilling centers that are nearer to them,” she explained.
She also suggested reviewing the program to reduce the course duration from one year to six months and proposed adding new courses like hairdressing, catering, and events management to attract more learners.
Abdullah Caner Akgun, Chairman of Sena Foundation and a Turkish national, praised the strong cooperation between his organization and UMSC.
He committed to collaborating closely with the UMSC to identify methods for improving the program’s influence on the socio-economic transformation of the community.
