news 2 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Buikwe Residents Await Long-Delayed Vocational Institute Pledged by Museveni
Ten years after President Museveni pledged a vocational institute in Buikwe District in honor of a local NRM supporter, residents and leaders are still waiting for the project to materialize, citing disputes over naming and lack of progress. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/buikwe-residents-wait-10-years-for-museveni-vocational-institute-pledge-5580568
Residents of Nyenga Division in Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District, are expressing frustration over the delayed establishment of a vocational training institute. The facility was promised by President Yoweri Museveni in 2014 during the burial of the late Sam Peter Kitaka, a prominent National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporter.
Kitaka, who was the LCIII chairman of Nyenga sub-county, was honored for his role in mobilizing support for President Museveni, particularly during the 1996 presidential elections. At his funeral, the President pledged the institute as a recognition of Kitaka’s contributions.
However, more than a decade later, the project remains unfulfilled. Local leaders, including LCIII chairperson Moses Waiswa, confirm that disagreements between government officials and Kitaka’s family regarding the institute’s name have significantly hampered progress. Despite these setbacks, efforts are reportedly underway to resolve the issues and move forward.
The proposed institute is seen as crucial for addressing youth unemployment and providing practical education in a region with limited infrastructure. Many young people in Nyenga, a hard-to-reach area with few educational facilities, struggle to access further education due to financial constraints and distance.
Leaders believe a government vocational institute would equip youth with essential skills in fields like carpentry, tailoring, mechanics, and agriculture, fostering self-reliance. The need is particularly acute in Njeru Municipality, which boasts a growing industrial sector but lacks adequate skilled labor, with existing private institutions being too expensive for most families.
State Minister for the Office of the Vice President, Diana Mutasingwa, recently highlighted the stalled pledge during Labour Day celebrations, appealing to the President to fulfill the promise. The local community continues to eagerly await the realization of the vocational institute, which has become a symbol of hope for many.