By Edgar Barigye Kugonza
Last week, a young nurse unknown to me picked my contact from one of our PLU groups and WhatsApped me, asking for the contact number of a prominent figure in this country, hoping to secure her a government job. Her frustration with clinic work is understandable, but her quest highlights a harsh truth: Uganda doesn’t have enough jobs to go around. This reality is further exacerbated by the limited scope of government employment, leaving many young people with dwindling hopes and a bleak future.
This shouldn’t be taken lightly because the numbers are staggering. Approximately 800,000 young Ugandans enter the workforce every year, a figure expected to rise to one million in the next decade. Unfortunately, the job market can’t keep up. With only 3.2% unemployment but 77% of the population employed, mostly in unpaid or low-productivity jobs, it’s clear that something needs to change. This disparity underscores the urgency for alternative solutions.
Surely, the war for seeking jobs is a brutal reality and can only be deeply understood by a son or daughter of a poor peasant. As I write this, almost every home has a graduate who wakes up early, scouring offices for a job – even where none have been advertised. They rent, and their landlords are losing patience, threatening to evict them due to unpaid rent.
As I write this, there are people who didn’t get money for kikomando and slept hungry last night. As you read this article, there are men and women in their late 40s or even up to late 50s who can not start families because they are still searching for jobs to sustain them. I tell you the psychological toll of this relentless search cannot be overstated, eroding confidence and draining ambition.
I often wonder if those in public offices truly grasp the struggles of the unemployed. If they really understood the daily realities of jobless youth, then we would be witnessing a surge in inter-ministerial collaborations and innovative job creation initiatives. The desperation that comes with waking up each morning without a purpose, the crushing weight of uncertainty that hangs over every unemployed young person – these are realities that demand urgent action.
What message of hope does our Ministry of Youth have for these hopeless youth? Shouldn’t they be told the truth? Isn’t it time for transparency about the limited job opportunities and the potential of entrepreneurship? The Ministry’s silence is deafening, leaving young people uncertain about their future. As a nation, I think we need a clear plan to address the challenges faced by our youth while they are still productive.
Rather than relying solely on government jobs or traditional employment, we should hurriedly encourage and guide our youth to explore entrepreneurship. Uganda has numerous opportunities for innovative, self-starting individuals to create their own jobs and contribute to the economy. From craft businesses to tech startups, the possibilities are endless.
However, our Ministry of Youth appears to be having no innovative plan to address the plight of unemployed youth. It’s astonishing they haven’t implemented a comprehensive program to grade, mentor, and fund young people according to their dreams and aspirations. Such an initiative would empower youth to turn their passions into sustainable livelihoods. Honestly, I would appreciate to see the Ministry of Youth funding and launching youth-led mega innovations. I want to hear it wrestling with our legislators for budget supplementary because it is busy funding youth to actualize their dreams. Anyway, I have no idea how long the wait will be.
President Museveni’s efforts in skilling unemployed youth, particularly school dropouts, are commendable, but there is a significant gap in addressing the needs of professionals who already have a clear direction but lack resources. For instance, a physician with a passion for research in herbal medicines shouldn’t have to resort to sewing and selling clothes to fund his/her such a nation-building bright idea. One would wonder. How many days would this take a daughter or a son of a politician to have it actualized really? In today’s fast-paced world, ideas expire quickly. For Uganda’s youth, delayed action means lost opportunities, stifled potential, and a future slipping away.
By keeping professionals focused, we can enhance their expertise and stay relevant in their field. I also think it is for the Ministry of Youth to consider assessing skill gaps, developing strategic plans, and forming partnerships with industries and organizations. This collaborative approach will ensure our youth receive the support they need to thrive.
One key area ripe for entrepreneurial growth is agriculture and agro-processing. Uganda’s youth should look beyond the Ministry of Agriculture’s limitations and explore initiatives like Omulimi Asinga from Bukedde TV. This popular show demonstrates how entrepreneurship and hard work can lead to prosperity in agriculture. Through “Omulimi Asinga”, Bukedde TV has created a platform that educates and inspires. The show’s focus on innovative farming methods highlights the sector’s potential for growth and development. Moreover, the program’s partnership with organizations demonstrates the private sector’s commitment to supporting agriculture.
To truly empower our youth, the government needs to create a user-friendly, independent office handling youth entrepreneurship initiatives. This office should provide access to suitable funding, business training according to the professions of our youth mentorship, regulatory guidance and compliance support, and networking opportunities. Such support would safeguard against exploitation and unlock Uganda’s youth potential.
Truth be told Uganda’s newfound peace and stability under the NRM government presents an opportunity to revolutionize its economy. Soto me, by empowering youth to become entrepreneurs and job creators, Uganda can drive economic transformation, achieve middle-income status, and reclaim its global position, securing a brighter future and transforming into a beacon of prosperity and growth.
Conclusively, I, you and all of us together as a nation, let us have an honest conversation with our young people about Uganda’s job market reality because if we tell them the truth, we will also be telling ourselves what needs to be done to help them.
The writer is CEO Pamoja Communal Empowerment Network / pamojauganda72@gmail.com
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