15% OF UGANDA'S GRADUATES ARE UNEMPLOYED : EVERY YOUTH SHOULD BECOME AN AGENT OF POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION

 In the New Vision of 2nd December 2024 there was an article about youth unemployment in Uganda. It was stated that over 15% of Uganda's graduates are unemployed. Just a few months back another article in the New Vision showed that over 500,000 graduates were boda boda riders. These are critical facts that need interpretation for development actors from across the board. As a mentor of so many youths who form the biggest percentage of the population (over 70% of the population is below 30 years). I have been at universities and spoken to a number of youths and I admit that they have potential for positive transformation. A number of youths have started social enterprises that are addressing social challenges and are employing several youths. Despite the several challenges they are marching on. Indeed as the Chinese say that wherever there is a crisis there is an equivalent opportunity. Perhaps the high statistics of youth unemployment give us an opportunity to reflect on how we can tap into the resourceful potential of the youths so that they can become agents of national transformation.

Last year I saw a scene of a group of youths who robbed pedestrians of their their phones in broad day light. Other youths have resorted to gambling and drug abuse as a way of coping with life's harsh realities. I have never seen an economy that is built of get rich schemes which I see a number of youths opt for survival. Many youths have been influenced by peer pressure to avoid tasks that involve hard work. That is why it is easy for a youth to sell off land in the village and gamble the funds. The get rich mentality has spoilt so many youths that a number of them shun capacity building in favor of handouts. Some youths when they are invited for financial literacy training workshops put restrictions such as demanding for transport allowance. These same youths will find it appropriate at least to borrow and attend premier league matches. We need to shift the paradigms of a number of youths who think that life is meant to be easy. We need to redirect the efforts of the youths to long term projects that will create jobs for thousands of youths.

We need a generation of youths and university students who not only see themselves as competitors for marks but as collaborators. How come in the final year university students disperse without taking advantage of the social capital that they have amassed over the years of study. There is a group of old school students of Lubiri Secondary School who out of their whatsapp group formed an investment club that pooled resources and bought land in Ndejje. These are the kind of discussions that univesity students should be engaged in as a way of unplifting their socioeconomic status. Did we know that Bill Gates and his colleagues started Google as a university project? Today it is a global company that that revolutionarized the technology industry. It is employing millions of people. From one person's idea the world has changed forever.  Every year students do research and they celebrate on graduation but the question is where does the research end? Is it for only passing exams? Most university students want to be employed by already established companies but we also know that jobs are scarce. How can we encourage the university graduates to start community initiatives that address social problems and they can attract investors and partner with banks for funding. It seems we need a generation of youths who will not see the challenges of today in the lens of the past. We need youths who will ask tough questions and find means of solving social problems without fear.

Peter Munga started Equity Bank in Kenya after realizing that the poor farmers in Kenya were isolated. What started as a small building society is today one of the biggest financial conglomerates in Africa. This is a testament of the power of humble beginnings. We need a generation of university students who from first year have concrete plans of the projects and companies that they will establish by the time they have completed university. Today there are a number of programs that are aimed at empowering youths but how many youths have the capacity to go to banks and government offices to lobby for such opportunities?

HOW YOUTHS CAN BECOME AGENTS OF POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION

1.They should have a clear vision for their lives

2.They should believe in voluntary work

3.They should take advantage of mentorship opportunities

.4.They should avoid reading to pass.

5.They should embrace networking opportunities

6. They should embrace financial literacy training

7.They should embrace continuous learning

8.They should embrace continuous learning

9.They should enhance leadership skills

10.They should live within their means


The unemployment statistics should concern every Ugandan. We can not be safe as a nation when the biggest percentage of the population struggles to make ends meet. Some of the world's greatest billionaires and entrepreneurs started their projects while still at university. This should give a university student hope that they can become agents of social transformation.

Phillip Kiryowa

Personal Finance Coach

Advanced Empowerment Link

+256752615916

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