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Baguma Lucky, 24,
scooped a first-class degree in agriculture, from Mountains of the Moon University
in Fort Portal. Despite being among the best students, his journey of searching
for employment opportunities was not a walk in the park.
“I attempted to secure jobs in a number of
companies immediately after graduation, but I was always let down by the kind
of skills I had to offer. I had theories and I always got stuck. I couldn’t
operate simple machines like silage slicing machines. This made it hard for me to
compete for jobs,” Baguma says.
As he was still
contemplating the next step to take, luck struck his way. His former course
mate at the university shared on social media a text message about the Work
Readiness Programme that Enabel and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU)
with funding from the European Union, had initiated to empower fresh graduates
with skills that would enable them compete for job opportunities or create
their own jobs.
“I grabbed the opportunity and went through a
vigorous six months’ training at Honda Enterprises limited. I received hands on
training in various disciplines, including organic manure production, animal
feeds processing, formulation, preservation and application, biogas production,
zero grazing and poultry farming,” he says.
With rampant
deforestation that is greatly contributing to climate change and its diverse
effects like prolonged droughts that continue to cause food insecurity in the
country, shifting from use of charcoal and firewood to biogas as an alternative
source of energy is key in conserving the environment. Baguma is among the
lucky graduates who were retained by the institution after undergoing a six-month
training. He is confident that he can now face the world of work, since he has
what it takes to confront the labour market. A total of 12 graduates from Fort
port participated in the training. Baguma, like other graduates who were
retained by Honda, has been able to produce quality animal and poultry feeds
for the company, resulting in increased milk and egg production.
Every day, the company
is able to get over 100 litres of milk from the six cows on the farm and 120
trays of eggs. Each tray of eggs goes for Shs.120,000. He also practices
piggery and grows maize as his side business. His budding farm is situated in
Fort Portal along Kamwenge road. Baguma hopes to become a millionaire in a few
years’ time. Every month, Baguma bags over Shs. 600,000 from his current
employer and he counts himself lucky, as his name suggests. He says that most
of his course mates are still pacing between offices in search of employment in
vain. His salary has also helped him to fend for his mother and siblings. His
dream is to pursue a master’s degree in Crop Protection and Plant Breeding.
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