Ninety young people in Kisoro District have received start-up kits from Caritas Kabale Diocese after completing a three-month vocational apprenticeship programme aimed at promoting self-employment and improving livelihoods, particularly in communities hosting refugees.
The beneficiaries graduated from St Mary’s Mutolere Vocational Institute on Thursday, October 29, 2026, after training in seven trades: tailoring, hairdressing, knitting, bakery, mechanics, carpentry and welding.
The start-up kits are intended to help the graduates establish small businesses, apply their newly acquired skills and generate income to support themselves and their families.
The programme is implemented under the Protecting Yourself Against Violence (PROTECTRICE) Project, with funding from Caritas Belgium. Beneficiaries were identified in January 2026 through various stakeholders in Kisoro District, with particular attention to young people in refugee-hosting communities.
Rev. Fr. Vincent Byaruhanga, the Director of Caritas Kabale Diocese, said the initiative was initially designed to support refugees in transit camps but was later extended to include members of host communities in recognition of their economic needs.
He said the intervention combines practical training at St Mary’s Mutolere Vocational Institute with the provision of tools and equipment to help graduates turn their skills into viable income-generating activities.
Byaruhanga said the programme seeks to strengthen economic independence among young people while enabling them to contribute to the development of their communities.
Women challenge stereotypes in welding
Of the 90 graduates, 75 were female and 15 male, reflecting the strong participation of young women in vocational training.
Tailoring attracted the highest number of participants, with 33 graduates, followed by hairdressing with 31 and knitting with 10. Bakery and mechanics each had six graduates, while carpentry and welding had two participants each.
Among the beneficiaries were Niyonshuti Divota from Muramba Sub-county and Mukandanga Doreen from Nyarusiza Sub-county, who trained in welding and received start-up kits for the trade.
Their participation challenges traditional perceptions that associate welding and other technical trades predominantly with men, demonstrating the potential of vocational education to expand economic opportunities for young women.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Doreen thanked Caritas Kabale Diocese for providing both the training and equipment, saying the support had brought her closer to establishing her own enterprise.
“I have received a welding kit. With these tools, I am able to establish my own welding workshop and start earning a living,” she said.
The beneficiaries were drawn from several sub-counties and town councils across Kisoro District, including Bukimbiri, Nkuringo, Nyundo, Rubuguri, Nyakabande, Busanza, Chahafi, Chahi, Cyanika, Kanaba, Mupaka, Muramba, Nyakinama, Nyarubuye, Southern Division, Bunagana, Kirundo, Nyanamo and Rukundo.
Leaders call for accountability
Rev. Fr. Joseph Sebatwale, the Parish Priest of Mutolere and Dean of Mutolere Deanery, commended Caritas Kabale Diocese for supporting young people in the area, which hosts refugees.
He congratulated the graduates on completing their training and urged them to use the acquired skills to become self-reliant.
Sebatwale tasked Rev. Fr. Alphonse Mbabazi with following up on the beneficiaries to assess their progress and ensure they put the equipment to productive use.
Rev Fr Byaruhanga also called on parish priests from the eight Catholic parishes serving Kisoro District to monitor the beneficiaries and ensure the start-up kits are used for their intended purpose rather than sold.
He said regular follow-up would be important in determining whether the intervention translates into sustainable businesses, improved household incomes and greater economic independence.
Mbabazi, the Chairman of the Caritas Commission and Parish Priest of St Peter’s Gisoro Parish, who handed over the kits on behalf of the diocese, urged the graduates to take good care of the equipment and use it to establish and sustain their enterprises.
He thanked the institute’s management and staff for providing the three-month training and called on parish priests and youth chaplains to maintain contact with the beneficiaries to monitor their progress.
Mbabazi also urged the young people to avoid rushing into early marriages, encouraging them to prioritise personal development, economic stability and responsible decision-making as they prepare for the future.
Vocational institute advances to college status
Sr. Priscilla, the Principal of St Mary’s Mutolere Vocational Institute, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to remain committed to their respective trades.
She said the institution had been assessed by the Ministry of Education and Sports and accredited to offer diploma courses, marking its advancement to college status.
Priscilla commended Caritas Kabale Diocese for selecting the institute to train the beneficiaries and providing them with start-up equipment.
She urged the graduates to become ambassadors of vocational education by applying their skills responsibly and demonstrating how practical training can improve livelihoods.
Graduates urged to tap government programmes
Beatrice Kampire, a member of the Caritas Commission for Kabale Diocese and Community Development Officer of Nyanamo Town Council, commended the diocese for investing in the economic empowerment of young people.
She urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment to establish viable businesses and explore additional opportunities through government programmes, including the Youth Livelihood Programme and the Parish Development Model.
Kampire said the combination of vocational skills and start-up tools placed the graduates in a better position to pursue income-generating activities and potentially access further support to expand their enterprises.
The initiative seeks to address the challenges young people face in transitioning from vocational training to employment by providing them with both practical skills and the tools needed to begin working.
For the graduates, the success of the intervention will ultimately depend on their ability to turn the equipment into productive enterprises, while continued guidance from Caritas, local leaders and parish structures could help them build sustainable livelihoods in Kisoro District.
