War against unemployment has been staged by COMESA - Leather and Leather Products Institute(LLPI) in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. The sector provides services like promoting productivity, Human resource development, Research development among others. COMESA/LLPI still helps private and public leather industries improve productivity, marketing and information.
With the support of COMESA/LLPI, many people believe that their problem has been solved mostly in Africa. A workshop aimed at changing the lives of Africans has been taken to Uganda. This has called for different African countries like Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya among others to gather in Uganda, Kampala. The workshop was slated for one week from the 22nd to 30th September 2017 at MTAC (Management Training and Advisory Center) in Nakawa Kampala Uganda.
Different machines like the skiving machine, sole press machine, flat bed machine to mention but a few were brought to Uganda through the support of COMESA/LLPI. The machines are going to be used by the shoe makers that are interested in changing their lives through making money out of the leather goods and products like shoes, bags, jackets, wallets and belts from skins and hides. Some of the beneficiaries think this is a great opportunity to have the project brought close to them.
“I have never been in a workshop with such skilled people like I am today. Am very happy and I think my fellow Ugandans shall benefit from this program.” Says Nuru Buanika a shoe maker in Fair sole shoe factory in Uganda. He says COMESA/LLPI has helped him to be exposed to the world of business in leather products and he appreciates the good job done. He, however, says that though the machines have been given to them, they are not going to be enough because there are very many Ugandans who would want to use them but they won’t get the chance.
Isaya Looken Selema, a young shoe maker from Wa Asili Asili shoe company in Tanzania says he is very happy about the opportunity given to them because it favors both the young and ladies. Tanzania is said to have joined USAID-EATIH project as well. “I was inspired by my uncle who has been in the business for a long time. It’s this year in march when I also decided to start making shoes and am prospering. I have travelled to different countries because of this of I would not have done.” Says Isaya.
He says faces a problem with his customers who cannot tell the deference between leather and plastic. He finds it difficult to explain to them and convince them. Like Ugandan shoe manufacturers, Isaya says the problem of inadequate machines is tormenting them. He says he sometimes uses hands to stitch his products and it is hard and slow. Which would have been faster with the machines. He says what COMESA/LLPI is doing very good to the communities and he requests the unemployed, mostly the youth to take up the chance and change their lives.
Reported by : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Kampala, Uganda