Government, regulators and partners call for more jobs, skills recognition and better use of existing programmes at a consultative meeting in Kampala
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has held a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the status of youth employment in Uganda at its head offices in Kingdom, Kampala. The meeting brought together government ministries, regulators, social security and skills agencies, and legislators to examine why so many young people remain out of work and what can be done about it.
A Large Share of Youth Left Out
Opening the meeting, the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Shaft Nasser Mukwaya, cited 2020 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) figures showing that 16% of youth are unemployed. Women are more affected, at 18.7%, compared with 13.4% for men. He added that about half of those aged 18 to 30 are neither working, studying nor in training.
Dr. Mukwaya rejected the habit of blaming the jobless for their situation. He noted that government approves university courses, yet has not equipped young people with land, capital and other factors of production. He also described the economy’s 6% growth as “jobless growth”, saying it is driven by a few sectors that are not labour-intensive.
Education, Skills and the Quality Debate
Ms. Maria Nakatchewa of the National Council for Higher Education said that of the 1.8 million pupils who enrolled in Primary One in 2012, only about 142,000 reached university. She defended the quality of graduates, arguing that poor services deter them from taking up postings in hardship areas, and she called for an organised labour export policy.
A representative of the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council said vocational education is “an alternative, not a second choice”. He said reforms under way include a new qualifications framework that recognises skills gained informally and awards certificates to master craftsmen. The framework also raises the recognised qualification levels from four to six.
Barriers for Women and Gaps in Existing Programmes
Ms. Beatrice Ayikoru of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development cited early marriage, girls’ care burdens and school dropout as major barriers to employment. She said only 27% of those completing education find work, and she asked why the Youth Venture Capital Fund is not being fully used.
Public Service Jobs and Value for Money
Mr. Muhammad of the Ministry of Public Service said only 45% of established posts are filled because of a limited wage bill, even as government seeks to recruit about 87,800 teachers. He said the ministry saved Shs120 billion through payroll clean-up, creating room for about 8,500 frontline staff.
A representative of the Ministry of Finance urged the study to establish how many jobs government programmes sustain and at what cost per job.
Informal Work, Apprenticeships and Local Content
Mr. Milton Owori of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) said 87.6% of employment is informal and that the country must create about 900,000 jobs a year. He urged that apprenticeships be scaled up from about 400 places to at least 50,000, with more short courses in solar installation, coding and e-commerce. He also asked for stronger enforcement of the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy.
Hon. Avur Jane, a Woman Member of Parliament, called for expanding manufacturing and enforcing the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) reservation scheme, which sets aside contracts for youth.
Next Steps
The Commission said it will use the submissions to shape data collection and its final report. The report will go to the relevant ministries, the President and Parliament.
Mr. Owori cautioned that the real test is how many of the ideas are implemented.
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