Business

How JIKA Engineering and Skilling Innovation Center is going to boost Science and Technology in Uganda

509 views0
By

Science and technology, the order of the day in Uganda, as president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Minister Monica Musenero observed that this is one of the policies that will help Ugandans to startup their own businesses and answer the questions of unemployment in the country.

Last week President Museveni while launching the Science and Technology Week at Kololo emphasized that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations must bring on board the private sector so that they can contribute an additional venture capital to the science sector and promised to inject in 500 billions as seed capital.

These days, many young people are unemployed blaming the government for not caring, while some of them can actually acquire skills and start their own businesses as well as employ others.

Jimmy Kandole, a technology innovator, has set up the JIKA Engineering and Skilling Innovation Center in Mukono Municipality trying to answer unemployment question in youth.

The venture is located in Gulu Ward, Mukono Central Division near Wantoni stage on Jinja Road highway.

Mr Kandole, the Chairman and Director of JIKA Engineering and Skilling Centre said in an exclusive interview with this news website, that his team have been skilling youth without a permanent home until they decided to acquire a place in Mukono where youth are going to be impacted with innovation skills in engineering works and technology.

“We make greenhouses for agriculture for small and large scale equipment, welding machines, plumbing and others.

We have also managed to melt iron ore and manufacture machine parts for cars, brake drums for TATA vehicles and Drone cars.

“We also have over 450 youths around the country in different companies who are fully trained and now they can start up their own businesses” Mr Kandole said.

He added that they are looking forward to helping university students do their internship with hands on works which will help them boosting their skills in innovation.

Skilling those who have not gone to school is also our priority and many are successful in their endeavors all over the Country.

I have a feeling that Mukono will be blessed with this facility, If I have the support of the Government and other organizations, it will not take me a month to finish the working area and classrooms because we have ample man power of skilled young people” Kandole added.

“We still need other technical machines for designing the works to improve on the engineering sector and the boundary wall is still one of our main problems” he emphasized.

JIKA calls up on youth from different Districts in Uganda to come and gain skills in various fields, in order to eradicate unemployment in the country.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni last week  warned public officials against taxing innovations, saying that culprits will be dealt with, according to the law.

 

What's your reaction?

Excited
0
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Silly
0
Previous
Next

You may also like

Comments are closed.

More in:Business

Business

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI URGES EUROPEAN INVESTORS TO TAP INTO UGANDA’S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES 

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged European investors to take advantage of Uganda’s economic opportunities, particularly in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and agriculture, saying investment in productive sectors is key to expanding markets, creating jobs and accelerating economic transformation.    The President made the remarks today at State House Entebbe during a meeting with European Union Ambassadors and investors, where he highlighted Africa’s growing population and expanding market as a major opportunity for European businesses seeking investment and stronger economic partnerships. “This is what we have been advising our European friends to look at, because Africa is a big potential market with its fast-growing population,” he said. President Museveni attributed political instability in some African countries partly to identity-based politics, including tribalism, religious divisions and ideological misunderstandings, as well as a failure to appreciate the role of the private sector in driving economic growth. He said Uganda had learnt from these challenges and emphasised the need for a stable political and economic environment that enables private businesses to invest, expand production and create employment. The President welcomed ongoing and proposed European investments in Uganda, particularly in infrastructure and other productive sectors, saying such projects would strengthen economic links between Uganda and the European market. “All these projects are music to my ears. By constructing these projects here, you are linking the market of Uganda to that of Europe. Why can’t anyone see that?” he asked. On energy, President Museveni said the cost of electricity remained a critical factor in Uganda’s competitiveness, particularly for manufacturers seeking to produce goods at affordable prices. While welcoming private-sector investment in hydropower generation, he called for greater attention to electricity tariffs, arguing that affordable power was essential for industrial expansion and economic growth. He identified affordable electricity, railway transport and accessible financing for productive investments as key priorities for strengthening Uganda’s manufacturing sector. The President cited the Uganda Development Bank as an important source of financing for businesses engaged in productive activities, explaining that the government had retained the institution to support investments capable of expanding production and creating jobs. He also urged the European Investment Bank to channel more financing into strategic infrastructure, particularly railway development, electricity generation and distribution, and selected road projects. On road infrastructure, President Museveni encouraged European investors to explore opportunities in construction and financing models, including tolling arrangements where appropriate. The President also reaffirmed the government’s support for tax incentives aimed at attracting investment, particularly in manufacturing, and emphasised the importance of enabling eligible businesses to benefit from a 10-year tax holiday. ...
By Moses Buule Kizito