Artisans in Teso North Constituency, Busia County, have called on local leaders to give qualified professionals from the area a fair chance to compete for construction tenders.
The artisans said they were concerned that some construction contracts were going to contractors from outside the county, which they said could limit opportunities for local professionals and young people.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Eight Core Technicians Group chairman Eng Moses Omonya said local artisans were losing opportunities to contractors from outside the area despite having acquired technical skills and relevant certification.
Omonya, a structural engineer, said more than 50 members of the group had trained in various technical fields and were capable of undertaking construction works to the required standards.
He said local professionals should be considered for projects they were qualified to undertake.
“The government invested heavily in technical and vocational education to equip young people with practical skills but the purpose of such training would be defeated if local professionals were denied opportunities to put their skills into practice,” he said.
Omonya urged local leaders to consider the needs of young people when awarding construction projects.
“Leaders, please remember the youths. If we could access construction tenders, they would benefit from the many job opportunities we would offer. This will reduce crime usually associated with the youth and also improve their socio-economic development,” he said.
Omonya said awarding tenders to local professionals could create employment opportunities for young people, improve household incomes and stimulate economic activity within the constituency.
The artisans also called for transparent mechanisms to enable qualified local contractors and technicians to compete fairly for government projects.
They said increasing opportunities for local professionals could help address economic challenges associated with limited employment opportunities.
