The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, has called on wives of Special Forces Command (SFC) soldiers to embrace unity, cooperation, and a disciplined savings culture.
Speaking as Chief Guest at the second graduation ceremony for SFC spouses, held at the Marine Grounds in Entebbe, Mrs. Museveni emphasized the transformative power of saving, highlighting its potential to strengthen families and foster business growth within the SFC Spouses fraternity.
During the event, the First Lady joined a fundraising effort to procure a paper-crafting machine for the Wamaama Production Centre. The graduates, who completed six months of non-formal training, were awarded Uganda Vocational Qualifications Framework Performance Transcripts after receiving skills in areas such as soap making, tailoring, baking, cooking, leather design, weaving, and bead artistry.
This marks the second cohort of graduates, part of a group of 160 women who have successfully undergone an occupational competence-based assessment by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT). The first group graduated in November 2023.
Inspiration Through Saving Culture
Mrs. Museveni recounted the success of uneducated women in Bangladesh who transformed their lives by practicing disciplined weekly saving, ultimately establishing the Grameen Bank without external loans.
“I pray African women will unite, work together, and save so that one day, they can avoid borrowing from institutions like the World Bank. Unfortunately, even when we save, we tend to exhaust our money during festive seasons like Christmas, leaving us to start from scratch,” she noted.
She observed that financial struggles are often a leading cause of domestic conflicts and stressed the need for financial empowerment to reduce household violence.
Expanding Beyond Economic Empowerment
Mrs. Museveni urged the SFC Spouses Project management to broaden its scope to include programs addressing family and community challenges.
“Introduce initiatives on women’s leadership, health and wellness, hygiene, nutrition, and healthy living for children. These will not only improve quality of life but foster personal growth,” she advised.
She commended President Yoweri Museveni for his unwavering commitment to empowering women and marginalized groups through programs like the Presidential Skilling Initiative, aimed at boosting household incomes.
“I thank God for bringing you this far,” Mrs. Museveni said, expressing pride in the progress of the spouses. “Many SFC wives were entirely dependent on their husbands, but now, they are equipped to generate income and contribute to their families’ welfare. See what the Lord has done.”
She encouraged the women to nurture their talents and gifts, pursue leadership roles, and find ways to support their families sustainably. Sharing her personal experiences of raising children during exile and seeking education later in life, she motivated the graduates to remain steadfast in their endeavors.
Supporting Skilling and Industrialization
Mrs. Museveni thanked military officers who have supported their spouses’ participation in skills training programs and encouraged project leaders to leverage resources from Industrial Hubs set up across the country to promote manufacturing and industrialization.
President Museveni also made a significant donation by covering the full cost of a paper-crafting machine for the SFC spouses. The equipment, capable of producing napkins, serviettes, facial towels, toilet paper, and kitchen towels, will help generate additional income for the fraternity.
Strengthening Families and Communities
Major General David Mugisha, Commander of the SFC, praised the skilling initiatives for enhancing the lives of SFC families.
“Empowering women empowers the nation,” he stated, emphasizing how these skills strengthen families and communities while reducing financial strain. “This achievement should inspire graduates to think big and make a positive impact in their households and beyond.”
He lauded Mrs. Museveni as a role model, commending her values of love, integrity, and unwavering devotion to God.
Achievements of the Wamaama Production Centre
Kellen Nayebare, Director of Wamaama, shared milestones achieved by the production center, including acquiring land in Entebbe, registering as a company, obtaining certification for skill assessments, and establishing markets in SFC canteens and military barracks.
“We began in 2007 with 37 sewing machines donated by Maama Janet. Today, we have more than 100 machines across nine production centers,” she said, expressing gratitude to the SFC leadership and State House for their continued support.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Acting DIT Director David Mubiru, Kabale University’s Professor Emmanuel Muranga, and SFC representatives.
