ONC Boss Donates Relief Items To Excel Vocational Training Centre After Fire Destroyed Property Worth Millions

By Gad Masereka

Several weeks after the facility was completely destroyed by fire, which lost property worth millions of shillings, the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), led by Hajjat Hadija Namyalo Uzeiye, on Monday, August 7, 2023, donated relief supplies to Excel Vocational Training Centre in Kalule, Luwero District.

On May 30, 2023, a fire at Excel Vocational Training Centre destroyed textbooks, desks, mattresses, bags, and other student and institution property, shocking students, officials, and parents to the point of unimaginable shock.

Following the crisis, a number of well-wishers have been reacting to different rescue efforts made by the administration to revive the institution, one of which included requesting aid from Good Samaritans.

This request for help caused the head of the Office of the National Chairman to reply by giving the institution a variety of materials, including 100 blankets, 50 mattresses, and 30 bags of cement.

Addressing students at Excel Vocational Training Institute was Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo.
The institution’s director, Mr. Mwanje Shafik, who also serves as the Chairman of Endorsements for the ONC’s “Jajja Tova Ku Main 2026” project, informed Hajjat Namyalo that there are 2120 students enrolled there who presently require all the assistance they can get.

The majority of Bazzukulu/students come from low-income homes, and we offer bursaries to them so they may further their education since many of their parents cannot pay the tuition, according to Mwanje.

“Several organizations and individuals are coming out to support the institution after the adversity,” he continued, “and because of that, we are motivated to keep concentrating on giving the ‘Bazzukulu Ba Museveni’ skills that will allow them to create jobs and employ others.”

The director of the Excel Vocational Training Institute, Mr. Shafiq Mwanje
In her remarks, Hajjat Namyalo gave the students the reassurance that her office will advocate on their behalf to the government and other organizations to provide additional help to the institution in order for it to recover and carry on providing the community with the level of service it had been.

“A person with a talent or skill is 50% far better than someone who has acquired university knowledge without skills,” Hajjat Namyalo said.

“President Museveni emphasizes skilling of the youth (Bazzukulu) because it is one of the tried and tested approaches to solve unemployment through enabling them to create jobs based on the skills acquired by an individual, instead of having job seekers all the time,” she continued.

Some of the classrooms are inspected by Hajjat Namyalo.
After the tragedy that befell the institution, Hajjat Namyalo also expressed sympathy with Mr. Mwanje and other school administrators and prayed to God (Allah) to get rid of such wicked-hearted individuals who are impeding development.

As a response to the tragedy, “I have donated a few things, including 100 blankets, 50 mattresses, and 30 bags of cement. We look forward to getting more support to give the Bazzukulu Ba Museveni a secure learning environment,” stated Hajjat Naamyalo.

Some of the things given to the school officials
In addition to the Seed Secondary Schools established in every Sub-county and the technical schools established in most Sub-regions, all of these initiatives are aimed at boosting skilling among the youth. The ONC head also revealed that there is a network of Presidential Skilling Hubs in various parts of the country that are designed to provide youth with skills to enable them to earn a living.

She urged them to continue being so generous and complimented Mr. Mwanje and the management of the Excel Vocational Training Center for providing bursaries to help the Bazzukulu Ba Museveni, who are from low-income families.

Hajji Shafiq Mwanje and Hajjat Namyalo in his office
In her final remarks, Hajjat Namyalo extended an invitation to President Yoweri Museveni’s 79th birthday celebration at Kololo Independence Grounds to all of the Excel Vocational Training Center’s Bazzukulu Ba Museveni.

She stated that the event’s main goal will be to honor National Chairman H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his lifetime accomplishments, with the topic “Developing the culture of entrepreneurship in youth, women, and the country at large” as its backdrop.

Hajjat Namyalo went to the destroyed hostel.
Mwanje thanked Hajjat Namyalo for the donation and gave her the assurance that the institution’s management will continue to be centered on attaining higher goals rather than paying attention to those with bad intentions who wanted to bring the institution to its knees.

It should be emphasized that the Excel Vocational Training Center has been operating for 17 years and has held 11 graduation ceremonies, with 1327 graduates from various disciplines graduating most recently under the Vocational Studies program.

After graduation, the institution gave positions to a number of young people, while others went on to build their own small businesses. Other alumni opened workshops in the Luwero District that employ additional Bazzukulu.