EDITORIAL
President Yoweri Museveni says Ugandans should stop attributing unemployment to the lack of jobs in the country but blame themselves for lacking vision of implementing his 4 acre model he has advocated since 1996.
This was in his speech at the International Labour Day celebrations at the Mukabura grounds, in Fort Portal under the theme; “Improving Access to Labour Justice: A Prerequisite for Increased Productivity”
President Museveni says he’s tired of people complaining of lack of jobs yet they can utilize their land to gain by practicing agriculture. He adds that focus should be creating wealth and looking for jobs where some young people are flying out of the country to Gulf countries, leaving behind fertile soils they can utilize.
“Don’t tell me about lack of Jobs, Tell me that lack of vision. It’s just lack of vision because jobs are there. Countries that don’t have jobs are countries that are poor.Uganda is not poor.Stop wasting my time that lack of Jobs.All children that go to work for Arabs shouldn’t be going there because jobs are here!” Noted General Museveni.
4.2 million youth unemployed in Uganda
A recent report from the National Planning Authority (NPA) in 2023 revealed that 4.2 million youths in Uganda are ‘Neither in Employment, Education, nor Training- NEETs, representing 41 percent of the country’s younger population.
In addition to high unemployment rates, young people aged 18 to 29 are consistently disengaged from the labor market, education, training, and broader societal activities.
Despite Uganda’s economy generating 1.6 million jobs between 2016 and 2021, a significant number of youths struggle to secure employment or create their own opportunities.
This has led to an increase in the unemployment rate from 13 percent to 16.5 percent. The NEETs population has been increasing at a rate of 8.4 percent over the past decade, raising the number from 2.5 million to the current 4.2 million. It is projected to increase to 5.8 million in 2031/32 if nothing changes.
58 Awarded for their faithful Service
At the same event, 58 Ugandans were awarded medals of different categories for their service to the country and these included former Minister Daudi Migereko, the late Rev. Fr. Paolino Tomaino from Italy, UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, Uganda Tourism Board Executive Director, Lilly Ajarova among others.
