Uganda’s leaders and labour stakeholders have called for urgent, coordinated action to tackle rising youth unemployment and build a more inclusive economy, as the 4th Annual National Labour Convention and Expo 2026 opened in Kampala.
Speaking at Kampala Serena Hotel, Vice President Jessica Alupo urged stakeholders to rethink economic models to ensure they deliver benefits across all segments of society.
“We must build an economy that serves everyone,” she said, setting the tone for discussions centred on job creation, skills development, and labour market reforms.
The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, emphasised that Uganda’s economic future depends on how effectively young people are prepared for employment and entrepreneurship.
She highlighted a range of government programmes aimed at addressing the challenge, including the Jua Kali initiative, the National Apprenticeship Programme, the GROW project, and the Youth Livelihood Programme.
These interventions are designed to equip young people with practical skills while supporting self-employment and enterprise development.
“Our focus is on skilling the youth to prepare them for the job market and enable them to create their own opportunities,” Amongi said.
Development partners also reaffirmed their support. Representing Enabel, Project Manager Lucie Carlier said investments are being channelled into practical solutions that ease young people’s transition from education to work.
“We are investing in concrete pathways that help young people move from learning to earning,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Aggrey Kibenge, said the convention has attracted more than 200 participants drawn from government, the private sector, academia, civil society, and development partners.
He noted that the engagements are expected to produce specific, measurable, and time-bound recommendations to address labour market gaps.
On the policy front, Kibenge revealed that government is preparing a Cabinet paper aimed at revitalising wage regulation structures, including the Minimum Wages Advisory Boards and Wages Councils, signalling renewed attention to fair pay and labour protections.
However, the private sector warned that structural challenges persist. Douglas Opio, Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Uganda Employers, said the transition from education to employment remains a major bottleneck.
“Only 13 percent of graduates secure jobs in their first year,” Opio noted, calling for targeted and data-driven employment strategies comparable to inflation-targeting frameworks used in economic policy.
The convention continues with stakeholders expected to outline actionable solutions to bridge the gap between education and employment, strengthen skills development systems, and unlock sustainable job opportunities for Uganda’s rapidly growing youth population.
