Col. Nakalema, University Dons Discuss Youth Unemployment

The Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit, Col. Edith Nakalema has rallied academicians to find lasting solutions to the recurring burden of youth unemployment in Uganda. 

According to Nakalema, the rampant unemployment rate in Uganda exacerbated by corruption levels and the failure of the youth to access policymakers, needs concerted effort of all stakeholders to find both short-term and long-term solutions.“When these young people tell us that we are not giving them attention, it is a genuine concern because they now kind of own the country given that they are the majority and we must ensure that what they are putting to us is addressed,” Nakalema said during a meeting with academicians and other leaders at her unit's offices in Kampala. 

The meeting was aimed at discussing and sharing solutions to youth unemployment, a challenge the country continues to deal with. “Several factors affect youth unemployment in Uganda, including poor access to quality education and training, a skills gap between job seekers and open positions, a dearth of formal jobs relative to the number of young people entering the labour force and the dominance of the informal sector,” Nakalema noted. 

She added "Whereas the government has spearheaded several interventions to tackle the unemployment challenge such as the Presidential Skilling program, the Youth Livelihood Program, the Uganda Youth Venture Capital Fund, the Youth Apprenticeship and Skills Development Program, the National Enterprise Development Program and the Youth Entrepreneurship Program among many others, the problem persists.“And the level of disgruntlement against the government is deepening and it is our big concern now. However, the challenge we are facing needs your minds, the researchers and leaders of top academic institutions,” Nakalema said. 

She added that the proposals from other stakeholders including Makerere University to enhance government efforts in tackling the unemployment challenge have already been forwarded to the President. Among the proposals was to mobilise the youths into categories; the literate/skilled and unemployed and the second category of illiterate/unskilled and unemployed who she said seem to be a dangerous group.“This categorisation will help in national planning to possibly incorporate them in the relevant government MDAs as well as the private sector,” Nakalema stated. 

Other measures in the proposal include; waiving taxes from small business startups for the youths to ensure the sustainability of business startups and for the government to support Universities in establishing centres of entrepreneurial skill development to equip graduates with practical competencies to help them generate income and other than searching for the limited white-collar jobs.

The Vice-Chancellor, of Kyambogo University, Prof. Elly Katunguka called on learning institutions to enhance entrepreneurship training in addition to the theories taught.“I just returned from Iowa State University which specializes in building small business enterprises. Somebody graduates with a business ready to roll out,” Katunguka said, adding that many graduates can’t find jobs due to the large amount of theoretical content.

The Director General, of Uganda Management Institute, Dr. James Nkata called for a national employment policy framework where all stakeholders can contribute strategies to end the problem. According to Nkata, this would help the youths conceptualize work and unemployment. “Most of the youths we have today have a narrow conceptualization of unemployment by thinking only about white-collar jobs and earning a government salary,” Dr. Nkata noted. 

The Dean, of the School of Management Science, Uganda Management Institute, Prof. Gerald Kagambirwe Karyeija suggested a comprehensive study of the youth policy and structure in the country to ensure that it responds to the current needs and demands of the youth.“In the long term it's helpful for the President to consider having a small review commission to look at the youth question comprehensively given the national employment philosophy, reconceptualization of work and unemployment and opportunity creation but also in terms of their active engagement in both the economy and the governance of this country,” he said. 

The meeting is among the series of engagements Col. Nakalema has had with various stakeholders, including youth leaders and the business community.

According to Col. Nakalema, after studying the proposals, President Museveni is expected to meet the youth leaders in October to discuss the issue and make a landmark contribution towards creating an environment where the youths can thrive and contribute towards economic growth. 

The other academics who attended the meeting include; Stella Kyohairwe, a lecturer at Uganda Management Institute; Adrian Bainebyabo, also from Uganda Management Institute; and Fred Ruhindi, the pro Bono legal advisor at the State House Investors Protection Unit.