Col. Edith Nakalema, head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), has urged academics to develop lasting solutions to Uganda’s persistent youth unemployment crisis.
Speaking during a meeting on Wednesday with academicians and other leaders at SHIPU offices in Kampala, Col. Nakalema highlighted the urgent need for collaborative efforts to tackle the issue. She emphasized that rampant unemployment, compounded by corruption and limited access to policymakers, requires both short-term and long-term solutions to avoid potentially dire consequences.
“When young people say we are not giving them attention, it’s a genuine concern because they are now the majority. It is our responsibility to ensure that their voices are heard,” said Col. Nakalema. Citing the 2024 preliminary Population Census results, she noted that youths aged 0-35 make up 82% of Uganda’s 45.9 million people.
The meeting, attended by prominent academic figures including Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Prof. Elly Katunguka and Uganda Management Institute (UMI) Director General Dr. James Nkata, focused on addressing the root causes of youth unemployment in Uganda. Col. Nakalema identified multiple contributing factors such as inadequate access to quality education, skills gaps, and the limited availability of formal jobs.
Despite various government interventions, including the Presidential Skilling Program and the Youth Livelihood Program (YLP), youth unemployment remains a challenge. “The level of dissatisfaction with the government is growing,” Col. Nakalema warned, stressing the need for researchers and educational leaders to offer new insights and solutions.
Key topics discussed included strategies to expand job creation, align educational institutions with workforce demands, and nurture essential soft skills for the modern labor market. Col. Nakalema also noted that proposals from institutions like Makerere University have been forwarded to President Museveni for consideration. These include categorizing unemployed youth by skill level and offering targeted support to each group.
Other proposed measures include tax exemptions for youth-led startups to foster sustainable business growth, as well as government-backed entrepreneurship centers at universities to help graduates generate income beyond the limited white-collar job market.
Prof. Katunguka encouraged Ugandan institutions to emphasize entrepreneurship training alongside theoretical education, citing his recent visit to Iowa State University, where students graduate with business plans ready for implementation. “Many graduates struggle to find jobs because of an overemphasis on theoretical content,” he remarked.
Dr. Nkata called for the development of a national employment policy to guide all stakeholders in addressing the unemployment crisis. “Many young people have a narrow view of employment, equating it solely with white-collar jobs,” he explained.
Prof. Gerald Kagambirwe Karyeija, Dean of the School of Management Science at UMI, suggested a comprehensive review of Uganda’s youth policy to ensure it addresses the current needs of the younger population. He proposed a national commission to assess youth employment and participation in the economy and governance.
Ms. Stella Kyohairwe, a lecturer at UMI, highlighted the potential of sports as a profitable avenue for youth empowerment, urging talent identification and development in this field.
The meeting was one of a series of engagements led by Col. Nakalema with various stakeholders. President Museveni is expected to meet with youth leaders in October to discuss the proposals and explore tangible ways to foster an environment where Uganda’s youth can thrive and contribute to economic growth.
