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Col. Edith Nakalema, head of the State House Investors Protection Unit has called on academicians to collaborate in finding sustainable solutions to Uganda’s youth unemployment crisis. During a meeting with academic leaders, she emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to tackle unemployment, which is exacerbated by corruption and limited access to policymakers.

Col. Edith Nakalema, Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), has called upon academicians to devise sustainable solutions to the persistent challenge of youth unemployment in Uganda.

Col. Nakalema emphasized that the high rate of youth unemployment, worsened by corruption and the limited access young people have to policymakers, requires the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to develop both short-term and long-term strategies to mitigate potential negative consequences.

Addressing a gathering on September 18, 2024, at the SHIPU offices in Kampala, she highlighted that youth between the ages of 0-35 constitute 82% of Uganda’s 45.9 million population, based on the preliminary results of the 2024 Population Census. She acknowledged the concerns raised by the youth about not receiving adequate attention and stressed the need for collective responsibility in addressing their issues, given their demographic significance.

The meeting, which brought together academicians and other leaders, sought to discuss and explore solutions to youth unemployment, a pressing issue that continues to affect the country. Among the notable attendees were Kyambogo University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Elly Katunguka, Uganda Management Institute (UMI) Director General Dr. James Nkata, UMI School of Management Science Dean Prof. Gerald Kagambirwe Karyeija, UMI lecturer Stella Kyohairwe, Adrian Bainebyabo of UMI, and Fred Ruhindi, Pro Bono legal advisor at the unit.

Col. Nakalema outlined several factors contributing to youth unemployment, including limited access to quality education and training, a mismatch between job seekers’ skills and job market demands, a scarcity of formal employment opportunities, and the predominance of the informal sector.

While acknowledging the government’s efforts to address the issue through initiatives such as the Presidential Skilling Programme, the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Skilling Uganda, and the Uganda Youth Venture Capital Fund (UYVCF), she noted that unemployment remains a significant challenge. She urged the academic leaders to apply their expertise to help design effective strategies that align with the evolving demands of the labor market.

The discussions focused on expanding job creation capacity in Uganda’s economy, strengthening education and training institutions to tackle youth unemployment effectively, and fostering essential soft skills among young people to better align their competencies with the current job market demands.

In her remarks, Col. Nakalema mentioned that various proposals, including one from Makerere University, have already been submitted to President Museveni. One such proposal calls for categorizing unemployed youth into skilled and unskilled groups to better tailor national planning and facilitate their integration into relevant government agencies and the private sector. Additionally, suggestions were made to exempt taxes on small business startups led by youth and to support universities in establishing entrepreneurship centers to provide graduates with practical skills.

Prof. Katunguka emphasized the importance of enhancing entrepreneurship training in universities, sharing insights from his recent visit to Iowa State University, where students graduate with business ventures ready to launch. Dr. Nkata called for the establishment of a national employment policy framework, which would allow stakeholders to contribute strategies to tackle unemployment, while Prof. Kagambirwe Karyeija proposed a comprehensive review of youth policy to ensure it responds to the current needs of young people.

The meeting is part of a series of engagements that Col. Nakalema has held with various stakeholders, including youth leaders and the business community. Following these discussions, President Museveni is expected to meet with youth leaders in October to further address youth unemployment and promote their contribution to Uganda’s economic growth.