The Government, through State House, has invested Shs1 billion in a modern value-addition facility at the Sebei Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Kween District, strengthening efforts to increase farmers' incomes, reduce post-harvest losses and promote agro-industrialisation in the Sebei sub-region.

The investment includes a maize milling plant, an animal feed processing unit and modern grain silos, all procured from China. The equipment has successfully undergone initial testing and is expected to process maize, soya and other grains produced in the region.

The value-addition project is an extension of the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub programme introduced by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni following the success of vocational training centres established to equip vulnerable and unemployed youth with practical skills.

The skilling hubs have trained thousands of young Ugandans in various trades while supporting graduates with start-up capital through hub SACCOs to establish their own businesses.

Building on the programme's achievements, the Government has expanded the initiative by establishing value-addition facilities in 11 of the country's 19 Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs.

Speaking on Friday, 24th July 2026, during a stakeholders' engagement on the progress of the Sebei Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, the Director of Projects and Presidential Industrial Hubs at State House, said the Government had invested at least Shs1 billion in each of the selected hubs.

Representing the State House Comptroller, Ms Jane Barekye, Eng. Kamugisha said the facilities are intended to transform agricultural production into commercial enterprises capable of generating higher incomes for farming communities.

“Value addition is not only happening in Sebei but in 11 hubs across the country. This is a significant investment, and communities must embrace and utilise these facilities to improve their livelihoods,” he said.

He explained that Sebei was selected because of its high maize production and expanding livestock sector.

According to Eng. Kamugisha, the milling plant has the capacity to process 10 tonnes of grain per day, mainly maize and soya, while the silos can store up to 500 metric tonnes of grain.

Besides processing agricultural produce, the facility will train farmers in proper post-harvest handling, grain storage and quality management to minimise losses and improve the competitiveness of Uganda's agricultural products.

"We have been poor in post-harvest handling. With these facilities, farmers will be taught good practices, enabling our agricultural products to compete favourably on the international market," he noted.

He added that the animal feed processing unit would reduce Uganda's dependence on imported livestock feeds, particularly from neighbouring Kenya.

"We shall no longer have to import all our animal feeds from Kenya. They will be produced here using locally available materials," he said.

Eng. Kamugisha said the industrial hubs are gradually being transformed into self-sustaining institutions capable of producing food and other essential supplies for the Government, especially during emergencies and national crises.

He also revealed plans to establish a Four-Acre Model demonstration farm at the hub to train surrounding communities in modern commercial agriculture.

The demonstration farm will showcase enterprises such as beef cattle, coffee, bananas and other high-value crops suitable for the Sebei region.

He encouraged residents to embrace commercial coffee growing, saying properly managed coffee plantations have the potential to significantly improve household incomes.

"Leaders must aspire to learn, and when they learn, they should inspire others to get out of poverty. The President has repeatedly advised Ugandans to embrace the Four-Acre Model, and we must now implement it," he said.

Eng. Kamugisha further urged Resident District Commissioners, local government leaders and other public officials to champion the President's wealth creation agenda by leading through practical examples.

"The President has said this is a term of no more sleeping and no more corruption. He will not accept leaders who continue to preside over poverty," he said.

State House is also planning to establish a Common User Production Facility, where graduates and members of the surrounding community will access shared machinery and production space to manufacture goods on a commercial scale.

To facilitate the project, Eng. Kamugisha appealed to leaders in Kapchorwa Municipality to provide at least five acres of land to accommodate production units, workshops and hostels for graduates engaged in enterprise development.

He said the facility would promote local manufacturing, create employment opportunities and reduce Uganda's reliance on imported goods.

Leaders who toured the newly installed value-addition facility commended President Museveni for expanding the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub programme beyond vocational training to include agricultural processing.

Mr. Fadir Satya, the Kapchorwa District Youth Chairperson, described the hubs as a potential catalyst for Uganda's economic transformation.

"Every country has had a turning point. The United States had the Industrial Revolution, while China used economic reforms. Uganda's turning point could be these industrial hubs," he said.

He added that the programme provides practical skills, equips young people for employment, supports graduates with start-up capital through SACCOs and now extends its benefits to farming communities through value addition.

Ms. Justine Yeko, Chairperson of the Sebei Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Governing Committee and Kapchorwa District Commercial Officer, said the hub has so far trained approximately 1,200 young people.

She appealed for a vehicle to improve transportation for staff and trainees, especially during medical emergencies, noting that health facilities are located far from the hub.

Ms. Yeko also revealed that the Government had injected Shs200 million into four SACCOs supporting graduates from the Sebei hub, with Kapchorwa Municipality, Kapchorwa District, Kween and Bukwo each receiving Shs50 million.

She said the SACCOs were performing well and had enabled many beneficiaries to establish income-generating enterprises. However, only about 200 of the 1,200 graduates have so far accessed the available funds.

 "The number of graduates is still high compared to the money available. We request additional funding so that more young people can benefit and transform their lives," Ms. Yeko said.