The Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) has trained 141 women in Luwero District on value addition for the abundant pineapple crop, as well as other product-making skills.
The women were mobilized by Taqwa Islamic Savings and Cooperative Society (SACCO) from Butuntumula Subcounty, Wobulenzi, and Luwero Town Council. The week-long training took place at Kasana UMEA Primary School, where participants learned how to produce pineapple juice, soap, cosmetics, spices, and baked goods, among other products.
On Friday, the women received certificates of completion from UIRI and were encouraged to put into practice the skills they had acquired during the short course. Shamilah Basemera Ntege, the Coordinator of the Training at Taqwa Islamic SACCO, explained that the SACCO not only encourages women to save and borrow but also sponsored the training to help women acquire skills that could boost their household incomes.
“We approached UIRI, which provided trainers in several areas. After a week of training, we are hopeful that the women will be able to apply the skills and earn income, which they can partly save for further investment,” said Basemera.
Richard Bwabye, the Luwero Resident District Commissioner, expressed his satisfaction with the women’s progress and challenged them to apply their new skills to enhance their small-scale businesses. “There is a ready market for the products you have learned to make. Please go and produce for sale, starting within your neighborhoods,” Bwabye urged.
The training culminated on Friday with a certificate-awarding ceremony presided over by Rosemary Namayanja, the Deputy Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Namayanja emphasized that value addition is a key policy of the NRM government and encouraged the women to apply for Parish Development Model loans to expand their small-scale businesses.
“We have seen from the exhibition that the women can process juice from pineapples that lasts up to six months, unlike the locally made juice which spoils after two days. The women should utilize the abundant pineapples in Luwero to produce juice for sale within their communities and earn income. This will help address domestic violence and other poverty-related challenges in homes,” Namayanja said.
Caroline Lule Nassiwa, one of the trainees, said the training was timely and would help her save money after acquiring skills in soap and cosmetic making. “I will no longer buy cosmetics and soap for my home because I can make them myself. I will save that money and use it for other household needs,” Nassiwa said. Another trainee, Proscovia Namuyiga, shared that she had acquired new skills in juice making that would improve her small business.
“I have been making juice, but it would spoil after two days. With this training, I can preserve it for six months. This means I will no longer incur losses, and I’m going to expand my business,” Namuyiga said.
