Col Nakalema rallies top academicians for solutions to youth unemployment
Col. Edith Nakalema, the Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), recently convened a high-level meeting with top academicians to tackle the pressing issue of youth unemployment and explore strategies for wealth creation among Uganda’s young population.
The meeting, held at SHIPU offices in Kampala, brought together prominent scholars to brainstorm on sustainable solutions to the challenges facing Uganda’s youth.
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Col. Nakalema emphasized the urgency of addressing youth-related issues, noting that Uganda’s demographic is overwhelmingly young.
"The young people from 0 to 35 years constitute 82 percent of the population. This means the majority of Ugandans are young," she stated.
This statistic, she argued, makes it imperative for stakeholders to prioritize youth issues in order to achieve the country's socio-economic transformation goals.
Col. Nakalema acknowledged the government’s efforts to address youth unemployment through various programs such as the Youth Livelihood Fund and the Presidential Skilling Program.
However, she also recognized the persistent challenges that have led to widespread dissatisfaction among the youth.
“To ensure the success of interventions designed to address the challenges faced by the youth, it is critical that targeted and focused solutions are developed to address their unique needs,” she stressed.
The dialogue also featured input from key academic figures, who offered their insights on how Uganda could harness its youthful population for economic growth.
Associate Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Director of the Lung Institute at Makerere University, highlighted the importance of developing the country’s knowledge economy.
“The knowledge economy constitutes a significant portion of national economies. According to the US Chambers of Commerce, IP-intensive industries account for over a third of GDP. In Uganda, we have a sleeping giant that is not being attended to,” Prof. Kirenga remarked.
His comments underscored the untapped potential within Uganda’s intellectual resources that could be leveraged for national development.
Adding to the conversation, Prof. Gerald Karyeija, a Senior Lecturer at the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and Policy Analyst, called for a comprehensive review of the National Youth Policy and Strategy.
He argued that the current policy framework needs to be realigned with the evolving needs of today’s youth.
“We need a complete rethink of the policy to match new trends,” he asserted.
Prof. Karyeija also pointed out that many youth empowerment initiatives are fragmented and advocated for their integration to maximize impact.
The former Attorney General, Fred Ruhindi, echoed the sentiments of the other speakers, urging continued engagement with the youth.
“We should continue engaging the youth in various forums to give them hope,” he concluded, highlighting the need for sustained dialogue and hope-building among Uganda’s young generation.
The meeting underscored the importance of a collaborative, multi-faceted approach to addressing youth unemployment in Uganda.
With the majority of the population under 35, the stakes are high, and the dialogue initiated by Col. Nakalema and her team is a critical step towards harnessing the potential of Uganda’s youth for national development.
