DANIEL MUMBYA: The AYITAH Charity Foundation, in partnership with the Relief Trust, has distributed 50 wheelchairs and 50 sewing machines to persons with disabilities and young mothers in Iganga District to promote independence, skills development and economic empowerment.
The equipment was distributed during an event held at the Multipurpose Vocational Institute in Ngangari Village, Bulamagi Sub-county, with beneficiaries selected from across the district’s sub-counties.
Mugisha Sadick, the Communications Officer of the AYITAH Charity Foundation, said the partnership with the Relief Trust was intended to support vulnerable members of the community who often face barriers to education, vocational training and employment.
Sadick said the organisation had received numerous requests for assistance from families with persons with disabilities, highlighting the need for continued support to improve their livelihoods. He urged parents and guardians of children with disabilities to embrace vocational education, saying practical skills could enable them to create their own employment opportunities rather than depend on formal jobs.
He cited tailoring, hairdressing and electrical installation as some of the skills that could provide opportunities for self-employment, provided trainees acquired the necessary qualifications and certification from relevant institutions, including the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and the Uganda Vocational and Technical Examinations Board (UVTEB).
The Iganga District Woman Member of Parliament, Mariam Seif, urged parents to support children with disabilities by providing the necessary educational materials and advocating for their inclusion in learning institutions and other community activities. Seif said empowering vulnerable groups had been part of her commitment to community development even before she joined active politics.
She also pledged to raise concerns about limited electricity coverage in parts of Iganga District in Parliament, noting that inadequate access to electricity in areas including Kidaago, Nabitende and Nakigo was affecting technological advancement and development.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Multipurpose Vocational Institute, Musulo Ayub, pledged to provide free training in art and design to young mothers who received sewing machines to ensure they could use the equipment productively. Ayub also called on the government to strengthen vocational skills development in the Busoga sub-region by equipping training institutions with machinery and providing tools to graduates to help them apply their skills in the workplace.
The initiative seeks to improve access to vocational skills and income-generating opportunities among young mothers and persons with disabilities, enabling beneficiaries to become more economically independent and improve their living standards.