Pader District, Uganda — An 18-year-old youth from Pader District, Okol Jonathan, could not contain his joy after selling a pair of handmade shoes to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for UGX 500,000 during a campaign rally in Pajule Town Council.
Okol, a resident of Lamin Ocwida Village, Purana Subcounty, is a proud beneficiary of the Presidential Skilling Hub Initiative, a State House program aimed at empowering Ugandan youth with hands-on vocational skills.
The initiative, launched under the Skilling the Youth Programme, trains young people across the country in trades such as tailoring, carpentry, welding, bakery, and shoemaking.
The life-changing moment happened during an NRM presidential campaign rally at Pajule Nursery and Primary School, where President Museveni invited graduates of the skilling hubs to step forward and share their experiences.
Among those who came forward was Okol, who had recently completed a shoemaking course at the Gulu Presidential Skilling Hub. Proudly holding a pair of neatly crafted leather shoes, the young artisan caught the President’s eye.
When the President inquired about the price of the shoes, Okol replied with a smile:
“Your Excellency, I sell a pair at UGX 50,000 — but since you’re the President, I’ll give you one at only UGX 500,000.”
The crowd burst into laughter, and to everyone’s surprise, President Museveni bought the pair on the spot, commending the young craftsman’s confidence and creativity.
Speaking to reporters after the rally, Okol shared his inspiring journey.
“I dropped out of school after Primary Seven because my parents couldn’t afford secondary education,” he said. “I was home doing nothing until I heard from our LC5 chairperson about the Presidential Skilling Hub.
I applied and was lucky to join the Gulu center, where I learned shoemaking.”
After completing the training, Okol started a small shoemaking workshop in Gulu City, producing about 15 pairs of shoes per week. His monthly earnings now average around UGX 500,000, money he uses to support his family and reinvest in his growing business.
However, he admits that the journey has not been without challenges.
“The cost of materials and transport from Kampala is still high,” he explained. “If I get more support through the Presidential Skilling Fund, I want to register my company, expand production, and employ other young people.”
The Presidential Skilling Hub Initiative continues to change lives across Uganda by equipping thousands of young people with employable skills.
According to State House officials, over 25,000 youth have graduated from different hubs since the program’s inception, many of whom have gone on to start successful small enterprises.
For youths like Okol Jonathan, the initiative is not just a training opportunity — it’s a doorway to dignity, independence, and hope.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for this initiative,” Okol said in closing. “It has made me who I am today.”
What began as a routine campaign rally in Pader turned into an unforgettable moment of inspiration — a young shoemaker from a humble background selling his handmade shoes to the President himself.
Okol’s story is a testament to how skills, hard work, and opportunity can transform lives. His dream now is simple but powerful: to walk his community into a future of self-reliance, one shoe at a time.
