By Benedict Mukoni………….
The Sister-Led Youth Initiative Uganda (SLYIU), a program under the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU), convened training center administrators and other participants from the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Gulu and Tororo at the end of January 2026 for an orientation on the Phase III Core Program Areas (CPA).
Among the administrators were principals, directors, headteachers, and delegates serving as senior trainers, educators, and mentors. Together, they shared experiences from Phases I and II and reaffirmed their role as builders of hope for young people, especially the most vulnerable, as they embark on Phase III. Six additional training schools have been included in this phase, bringing the total to 22.
The SLYI Program Coordinator, Sr. Caroline Bacia LSMIG, highlighted three key developments introduced in Phase III:
- Of the targeted 1,035 youths to be skilled over the three years of implementation, 50 will be survivors of human trafficking/ Trafficking in persons, and 50 and 50 youth with disabilities will be recruited.
- Support will be extended to three (3) selected ARU Member Institutes to establish Mega Businesses as a strategy to strengthen their existing production units, support already skilled youths, and sustain the sisters’ communities in the long term. Over 90 skilled youths will be expected to receive apprenticeship or employment in the mega businesses.
- A functional Partnership and Employment Hub Office (PEHO) has been established, with an appointed officer to manage it. The PEHO officer will be responsible for linking skilled youths to employment opportunities and internships across the country, as well as tracking the progress and success of those trained and supported with start-up kits in Phases I and II. The PEHO will also be linked to a website to increase the SLYI’s visibility and draw in new donors and potential employers.
Participants also gained deeper insight into the Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET) Act through an in-depth presentation by Kampala Archdiocese Education Secretary, Rev. Fr. Nicolas Kiruma. The session was meant to help them understand the policies and standards required for an institution to qualify as a training center as well as those qualified to be trainers.
On behalf of ARU, the Assistant Secretary General, Rev. Sr. Justine Naluggya, IHMR, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all educators and mentors for their tireless service to young people. She urged them to remain committed, transparent, and donor-sensitive as they implement Phase III, emphasizing the importance of sustainability to ensure lasting impact.
The Sister-Led Youth Initiative focuses on restoring dignity, hope, and opportunity for young people facing hardships, build their confidence and empowering them to become agents of positive change in society. This is achieved through hands-on skills training in partnership with selected training centers operating under the Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET) framework across the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Gulu and Tororo.
ARU commended the SLYI coordinators for creating a platform where partners could reflect on their shared responsibility and formally demonstrate their commitment through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
