Business Development Training opportunity in Fort Portal, Uganda

Training session

Business Development Training opportunity for people with experience in business to be held on 18th – 22nd November, 2019 at YES Hostel, Fort Portal – Uganda.

The residential training will be facilitated by experienced and talented Dutch and Ugandan trainers (Master Making Tomorrow & Vledder Helpt Foundation - Netherlands).

To apply for this training opportunity, you must be able to speak English and have a business. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Each participant will contribute UGX 20,000 which will strictly be paid on arrival day.

If you are interested, answer the following questions and email them on s.akugizibwe@gmail.com or ilonapouels@gmail.com.

1.    Name

2.    Date of Birth

3.    Sex

Active participation of the participants

4.    Since when did you have a business

5.    What type of business (what do you make or sell)

6.    What do you want to learn in this training

Selected participants will be contacted.

For any questions get in touch on 0755788121/0782129895 or email: s.akugizibwe@gmail.com or ilonapouels@gmail.com

Uganda government should support vocational training and fight corruption

Over 100 community activists, students, teachers, journalists and local politicians appealed to the government of Uganda to increase support to vocational training in the country by setting up more vocational schools in Kasese district to train students in employable skills like electricity technicians, plumbing, wood work, agriculture, nursing, motor vehicle mechanics, nursery teaching among others to assist reduce the problem of unemployment in the country.

Participants at the one day dialogue in Kasese

Participants who were debating in a public dialogue also appealed to the government to fight corruption especially in government schools and the ministry of education so that students can get more quality education through the setting up of appropriate training facilities like laboratories, classrooms and reducing on teacher’s absenteeism. In addition, the fight against corruption will assist graduates to get jobs in the public sector since corruption makes it hard for poor graduates to get public jobs since they need to first pay bribes to get jobs.

In addition, during the one day public dialogue held on Wednesday, June 7^th 2017 at Springs International Hotel – Kasese, Uganda, the participants also advocated for the complete overhaul of the whole education curriculum to enable it focus more entrepreneurship, practicals and vocational education. Participants especially students also appealed to government to get for them jobs especially in the public sector and attracting more investors after the completion of their education.

A view of Kasese Town from Springs International Hotel - Kasese

This idea of transforming Uganda’s education sector was 1^st conceptualized when one of IRD – U staff (Solomon Akugizibwe) participated in a training supported by Master Making Tomorrow (MM2M) – Netherlands aimed sat transforming Uganda’s education sector. The training was held in Mutolere, Kisoro District – South Western Uganda in early this year and attracted over six schools.

The one day public dialogue was organized by Initiative for Rural Development – Uganda (IRD – U) in partnership with Association of Human Rights Organizations (AHURIO) and with support from Fredrick Ebert Stiftung.

There is need for increased funding and overhaul to transform Uganda’s educator

Over 100 community activists, students, teachers, journalists and local politicians appealed to the government of Uganda to increase financial support to the education sector to enable it provide quality graduates who can be self employed so as to reduce the problem of unemployment in the country.

Participants at the public dialogue in Fort Portal

According to the participants of the public dialogue, the financing should focus on enhanced teacher’s remuneration, education sector monitoring and supervision, construction of better classrooms, recruitment of more well qualified teachers, setting up of more well equipped science laboratories and strengthening collaboration between the private sector and the training institutions to enable students do fruitful internship to gain the much needed employable skills.

In addition, during the one day public dialogue held on Tuesday, June 6^th 2017 at Conerstone Hotel – Fort Portal, Uganda, the participants also advocated for the complete overhaul of the whole education curriculum to enable it focus more on creativity, critical thinking, sustaining and building networks, communication skills and skills and knowledge to use the 21^st century technology like internet and computers.

One of the students at the dialogue actively participating in the debate

This idea of transforming Uganda’s education sector was 1^st conceptualized when one of IRD – U staff (Solomon Akugizibwe) participated in a training supported by Master Making Tomorrow (MM2M) – Netherlands aimed sat transforming Uganda’s education sector. The training was held in Mutolere, Kisoro District – South Western Uganda in early this year and attracted over six schools.

IRD - U staff [Solomon Akugizibwe following the debate]

The one day public dialogue was organized by Initiative for Rural Development – Uganda (IRD – U) in partnership with Association of Human Rights Organizations (AHURIO) and with support from Fredrick Ebert Stiftung.

IRD – U partners with MM2M to hold an event dubbed “Mutolere Event of Educational Transformation (MEET)” in Kisoro District, South Western - Uganda

This event was facilitated by Maritje Bootje, Kamanzi Hedwig Sem,  Neeltje Hesen,  Solomon Akugizibwe,  Astrid Van Tilborgh, Ndagijimana Jackson and Mbarushimana Herbert and ran from april 24 – april 28 in Mutolere, Kisoro District – Western Uganda and it was aimed at transforming Uganda’s education sector.

A dutch facilitator during one of the sessions

This new initiative attracted 5 schools in Mutolere to work and learn together in order to improve the education system in Uganda and  stimulate and motivate students to become valuable members of our community and carry ownership and entrepreneurship for the future of the community and their own wellbeing.

The main topics focus focussed on were Talent development by students, communication between teachers and students to gain more involvement, participation and ownership of the own learning process of students, creative thinking (focussing on problem solving and gaining new ideas), Active learning, Reflection, implementation of educational reforming plans, multiple intelligence, differentiation in the classroom, cooperative learning and Shooting a documentary of this whole process of learning during M.E.E.T.

The opening ceremony was at St. Pauls SS from 2 pm –3 pm. After the opening ceremony the facilitators introduced the program to the participants.

It was an ambitious programme: with 5 schools in the district of different denominations and a mix of students and teachers work together on their own by a group.

After the training, private project group will now continue with the schools which benefited  in which each school will initiate its own club where they can apply for projects with a little money to sustainably keep them going as per the objectives of this project.

This exercise was very unique, well received and participants were very engaged.

Singer Jamal performs at Gardens Restaurant, Fort Portal on 31st December, 2016

Uganda popular Musician, Jamal Waswa who is known for many of his popular hits like abakyala balabye an Inshwi among others will performed at the end of year (2016) with a performance at Gardens Restaurant on Saturday, 31^st December, 2016 starting at 3:00pm. The performance dubbed “Abakyara Bazira”

Singer Jamal

Singer Jamal who didn’t perform in other towns of Uganda on that same day to enable him give the people of Fort Portal a unique experience coupled with the 21^st century music performance which appealed to people advocating for gender equality. This event will also attract Kampala’s top DeeJays [DJ Hearts].

 “My passion is about advocating for gender equality. I am inspired by the day to day life and the environment I live in. I do reality music. I use my music to fight abuse against women and my joy is to see a society that embraces gender equality.” Jamal

Other local musicians who performed at the show are Araali Kigambo.

After the performance at Gardens Restaurant, the revelers experienced fireworks and key note speeches on gender equality at Gardens Restaurant – Fort Portal.

This event was supported by Africell Uganda, CocaCola, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, KRC FM, Voice of Tooro (VOT), 106 Unlock and Initiative for Rural Development – Uganda (IRD - U).

Singer Jamal to perform at Gardens Restaurant, Fort Portal on 31st December, 2016

Uganda popular Musician, Jamal Waswa who is known for many of his popular hits like abakyala balabye an Inshwi among others will perform at the end of year (2016) with a performance at Gardens Restaurant on Saturday, 31^st December, 2016 starting at 3:00pm.

Singer Jamal who will not perform in other towns of Uganda on that same day to enable him give the people of Fort Portal a unique experience coupled with the 21^st century music performance which appeals to women, married couples, girls, children, husbands and people advocating for gender equality. This event will also attract Kampala’s top DeeJays [DJ Hearts].

Jamal Waswa perfoming

“My passion is about advocating for gender equality. I am inspired by the day to day life and the environment I live in. I do reality music. I use my music to fight abuse against women and my joy is to see a society that embraces gender equality.” Jamal

Other local musicians to perform at the show are Araali Kigambo, Master Kalenzi (Obusongora Bwa Koogere hit) among others.

Entrance fee is UGX 10,000 for all people and UGX 50,000 for VIPs. After the performance at Gardens Restaurant, the revelers will experience fireworks at Mountains of the Moon, Hotel – Fort Portal.

This event is powered by Africell Uganda, CocaCola, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, KRC FM, Voice of Tooro (VOT), 106 Unlock and Initiative for Rural Development – Uganda (IRD - U).

IRD - U partners with MM2M to conduct a training on business development in Fort Portal, Uganda

The 5 days residential training facilitated by four (4) Dutch trainers from Master Making Tomorrow (MM2M) trained Rwenzori region, Western Uganda youth on talent development and business skills development. The five (5) days residential training took place on 24^th – 28^th October at Rwenzori View Hotel in Fort Portal - Uganda. This is the beggining of a much bigger and strengthened collaboration between IRD - U and Dutch friends working with MM2M since in future it will also involve supporting schools, business activities and health facilities among others. 

Participants and Dutch facilitators

The aim of the training is to train for Talent Development Coaches so that they can continue to train others to reduce the unemployment rates in Uganda and thus get their own income. In addition, the training will assist young entrepreneurs in strengthening their own business. 

The training was unique since it was a co-production between Ugandan and Dutch participants. Each contributes from their own learning needs and supplies from their own talents and knowledge to contribute. 

The training was a week of learning, exploring, pushing boundaries, grinding beliefs. And as the training proceeded, participants gained an unforgettable experience and discovered a lot about themselves.

In addition, the training mainstreamed the ‘learning by doing’ model where participants visited Mugusu market, a dairy farm in Kamengo and Mabere Ga Nyina Mwiru (stalactites and stalagmites) in Nyakasura, Fort Portal – Uganda for inspiration and learning.

Some of the more than 10 participants who benefited from the training were young teachers, social workers, entrepreneurs, journalists and entertainers among others. The training will be conducted annually in Uganda.

Participants and facilitators having a group photo

IRD – U greatly appreciates MM2M and especially Marije Boot (Team Leader), Bastiaan Last, Pieter, Tineke Beck for funding and facilitating the training. IRD – U is also grateful to all the participants who were able to complete the 5 days residential training and were awarded their certificates.

Documented by Solomon Akugizibwe (s.akugizibwe@gmail.com)