The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) has recruited 1,586 apprentices and 333 graduate volunteers under the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), a government initiative aimed at equipping young people with practical workplace skills and improving their employability.
The announcement was made during an employers' orientation meeting held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, where institutions selected to host apprentices and graduate volunteers were briefed on their role in mentoring, supervising and assessing participants during the one-year placement programme.
Speaking at the meeting, Acting Head of Skills Development, Technology and Innovation at the ministry, Zachary Kansiime, said the programme is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the demands of the labour market by exposing young people to real workplace environments.
“We have recruited 1,586 apprentices and 333 graduate volunteers under the National Apprenticeship Programme to enable young people to acquire practical workplace skills and improve their employability through hands-on experience,” Kansiime said.
He said employers are central to the success of the programme, noting that the orientation was intended to prepare host institutions to effectively mentor, guide and evaluate the trainees throughout the placement period.
Kansiime said the initiative forms part of government's broader strategy to address graduate unemployment by ensuring young people gain industry-relevant experience before entering the job market.
“The National Apprenticeship Programme implements the Presidential directive to address graduate unemployment by linking young people with workplaces where they can gain practical skills, industry exposure and experience that employers are looking for,” he said.
During the orientation, participating employers acknowledged the persistent mismatch between graduates' academic qualifications and labour market requirements, noting that many graduates possess formal credentials but lack the practical competencies and workplace experience needed by employers.
Beneficiaries welcomed the programme, saying it has enabled them to acquire hands-on skills, build professional confidence and improve their prospects of securing meaningful employment.
Officials said the National Apprenticeship Programme remains a key government intervention aimed at reducing youth unemployment, strengthening workforce readiness and building a more competitive labour force capable of meeting the changing needs of industry.
