'Over half of Ugandan youth idle'

The 2024 National Population and Housing Census report has revealed worrying trends in the county’s labour force.

The report which was released early this month, indicates nerve-wracking trends in the activity status of Uganda’s youth, revealing that 51% of the youth (aged 18-30) are not in employment, education or training (NEET).

“Among the Ugandan youth aged 18 to 30 years in 2024, 35% were no longer in school and were in employment, while 12% were still in school and about 51% were neither in employment nor education training,” says the report.

NEET, which signifies idleness, is often used as an indicator to measure the socio-economic challenges faced by youth, as it “highlights those who may be disconnected from opportunities for personal and professional development,” according to the report.

The report shows that Bukedi, Lango and Karamoja regions have the highest percentage of the youth population not in employment, education or training at 61%-62%.

Findings further show that males (15%) and youth living in urban areas (13%) are more likely to be in school whereas females (58%) and rural youth (55%) were more likely to be neither in employment nor attending school.

Unemployment

Expounding on the working-age population, the report indicates that nationally, approximately 25.2 million persons (56.7% of the population) are in the working-age population.

The employment-to-population ratio, which is the proportion of the working-age population that is in employment, was recorded at 38%. The report further highlights that males in employment are higher than females at 43% and 33%, respectively.

About the unemployment rate, it is noted that it is standing at 12.6% in 2024. The unemployment rate is highest among females who account for 15% compared to males (11%).

Among the youth, unemployment was observed at 16%. Unemployment is different from NEET (youth not in employment, education or training) because it happens when an individual who is not employed and is seeking employment, cannot find work. 

Experts speak out

Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo, a veteran politician, has asked the Government to align its objectives to the challenges the country is facing.

“The governance objectives have not been aligned to the challenges the country is facing. If you look at Universal Primary Education (UPE), for example, you will realise that the performance is more statistical than practical, yet we used to help our parents grow and harvest commodities like coffee, cotton and tobacco, among others, where our school fees came. Today, this is one of the reasons I can manage to go back to my farm and survive, even after being a former Leader of Opposition in Parliament,” he said.

He advises that the Government to prepare the youth to survive on their own rather than depending on it for survival.

“Let the Government continue creating opportunities for our young people to survive in sectors like agriculture and also change its policies on the youth since the current ones seem not to be effective,” Ogenga said.

He warns that failure to address the youth challenges, the Government will even lose the little it has achieved since it will not sit and watch it enjoy the little available resources.

“This trend shows that all of us are not safe in the country. Therefore, we ask the government to re-think and change some of its policies that are not addressing the youth unemployment challenges.”

More investment needed

Dr Jotham Musinguzi, the director general of Uganda's National Population Council, says 50% of the population are children aged between 0-17 years, who will require more government investment in education and health.

In addition, the findings show that those in the 18-30 age bracket now comprise 23.5%; and up to 73.5% of people are considered to be young.

“Young people are going to need more jobs and better health. The problem is adolescent health has been a problem in this country over the last 30 years, but we haven’t made much progress to address it,” he noted.  

Musinguzi, therefore, advised the finance ministry to focus on investments that help the young people. 

“What we need is an investment in quality education because these people are going to be competitive on the global stage. Without doing this, you are going to have these problems on the streets.”

Exploit available opportunities

Recently, while addressing a conference of Kampala ghetto youth, finance minister Matia Kasaijja highlighted some of the reasons for high youth unemployment rates saying it is as a result of their mindset.

“The Government has put in place so many programmes like the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, Youth Livelihood and Operation Wealth Creation to ensure that Ugandans including the youth benefit from its initiatives meant to create jobs and reduce unemployment levels in the country.”

He advised the youth to change their mindset and engage in government programmes to avoid being tempted to engage into criminal acts because of idleness.

His take on the matter was supported by Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba who underscored the importance of engaging in government programmes like PDM to reduce the levels of unemployment in the country.

“Youth should engage in all kinds of work except ones that are illegal like prostitution, if they are to reduce unemployment levels in the country,” he advised.

Other stakeholders like Ronald Ssempebwa, one of the technical coordinators at Operation Wealth Creation, also advised the youth to embrace the government programmes that he said are aimed at addressing their challenges.