Mr. Kajura said Uganda’s national unemployment rate stood at 3.2 percent while that of the youth stood at a whopping 22.3 percent. This could even be higher considering that he was quoting statistics of 2003. He said the urban unemployment rate for the youth is 12 percent, about seven times the rural rate of 1.7 percent. In Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, Mr. Kajura said the youth unemployment rate was 32.2%, while for those who have University degrees their unemployment rate is 36 percent. See, http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/UGANDAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21245160~menuPK:374871~pagePK:2865066~piPK:2865079~theSitePK:374864,00.html
The
findings are in line with the local statistics where an estimated 83% of the
youth are unemployed, as per the African Development Indicators 2008/2009.
The World Bank in its 2008 report said Uganda had the highest youth
unemployment rate and the youngest population in the world. It warned that
unless Uganda
scales up her efforts to create jobs, the youth would be more involved in crime
and armed conflicts. see, http://www.newvision.co.ug/mobile/Detail.aspx?NewsID=628872&CatID=1
A new report by International Organisation of Migration has revealed that the unemployment rate in Acholi sub region is 70 per cent. The IOM report was launched last Wednesday in Kampala by the paramount chief of Acholi Rwot David Onen Acana II. It is based on a survey conducted in the four districts of Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum and Pader. "The largest proportion of the population of Acholi sub region comprises of young and illiterate people. The majority lack formal education, are unskilled, disabled and former abductees who lie idle in the labour market," Rwot David Onen said. "Many missed education opportunities as a result of war, they matured in camps where they have been surviving on handouts and this has resulted in laziness and alcoholism among the population." The report has identified several major causes of unemployment in Acholi. See, Flavia Nalubega,Unemployment Rate in Acholi Region At 70 Percent The monitor, The monitor, 4 November 2009, http://allafrica.com/stories/200911040893.html
‘Unemployed youth a threat to stability’
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/631093--unemployed-youth-a-threat-to-stability-.html
Publish Date: May 16, 2012
By JOHN ODYEK
The labour force in Uganda stands at 13m according to the Uganda Bureau
of Statistics. The unemployment rate among Ugandans aged 14-64 was 4 per cent
in 2010 and a majority of the labour force classified themselves as
self-employed. The majority of the unemployed persons are youth and graduates.
Parliament speaker
Rebecca Kadaga has warned that the high unemployment rates among youth was a
threat to stability of business environment because when the unemployed take to
streets in riots they could destroy businesses.
"It is in the interest of companies to see that youth get employed to
ensure stability. Give them opportunities for internship and employment. I am
not saying youth should riot," Kadaga said.
She was addressing a national consultative meeting on the Youth Venture Capital
Fund. The function was organized by the Uganda Parliamentary Youth Forum at
Silver Springs Hotel, Kampala.
The meeting was attended by about 200 youth representatives from all parts of
the country.
Kadaga said she was concerned about the situation of situation of the youth
with regard to issues like their education and employment. She said Parliament
needs pass a law to govern the issues of youth. She promised that she would
allow a motion to be moved in Parliament to begin a dialogue on the problems of
youth.
The labour force in Uganda
stands at 13m according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The unemployment
rate among Ugandans aged 14-64 was 4 per cent in 2010 and a majority of the
labour force classified themselves as self-employed. The majority of the
unemployed persons are youth and graduates.
She said 'youth' was a small department in the ministry of gender and their
issues were drowned among other issues.
Kadaga said government and commercial banks should come up with simple
procedures to follow while lending to youth.
"I was asked by youth in my constituency to guarantee them loans
under the youth fund. They were told leaders should guarantee them. If I
guarantee 500 youth and they fail to pay, will I pay for all of them,"
Kadaga said.
Emmanuel Kitamirike, executive director Uganda Youth Network said each year Uganda produces
400,000 graduates from universities and all tertiary institutions. Kitamirike
said the jobs created annually were only about 90,000 creating a job deficit of
310,000 annually.
Monica Amoding, chairperson Parliamentary Youth Forum said they were unhappy
with the way the Youth Fund was being operated because accessing the funds was
excluding those without 'O'Level certificates, the uneducated youth. Amoding
said the funds should be part of the employment.
Government in February signed an agreement with three commercial banks to
create a sh25b Youth Joint Venture Fund. The fund was set up with a sh12.5b
contributed by government in partnership with KFW, a German Development agency.
An additional sh12.5b was mobilized by participating banks.
The interest rate is set at 15% with charges and fees capped at 1%. The fund is
expected to support youth starting or expanding their business enterprises. The
loan sizes will range between sh100,000 to sh5m or 20% of injected equity for
youth group investments.
High Unemployment Rate Worries Kayihura
By Benedict Okethwengu in Nebbi,
The New Vision , 1 November 2011
"As a country we have a big problem, the high rate of employment among the youths is a time bomb for us," he said.
Kayihura said though the country is facing tough economic challenges there need to be a mechanism to address the socio- economic issues affecting the youths.
He was speaking on Friday (October, 28, 2011) at Rajja Hall in Nebbi Town during a dialogue organized for, political, religious leaders in Nebbi and William Esrom Alenyo, Robert Okumu, the rival contenders for Nebbi LC5 leadership.
The dialogue was organized by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to forge way towards peace in the district as the two political heavy weights fight their political battle in Court.
Major General, Kayihura, the Inspector of Police adressing the Nebbi youths in Nebbi Town.
Two people were killed on October, 17 as result of the violence that erupted in Nebbi Town after supporters of William Esrom Alenyo went wild following an injunction issued by the court of appeal that blocked Alenyo to be sworn in as chairman LC.5 Nebbi.
Kayihura said the police will give one million shillings each to the families who have lost their dear ones.
He said the police will also foot all the medical bills of those who have been injured during the violence.
The dialogue was attended by Badru Kiggundu, the Chairman electoral commission and Patrick Mutabwire, the director Local government administration in the Ministry of Local Government.
Kayihura challenged the district leaders to consider youths as a priority to benefit from government programs like National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and Northern Uganda Action Fund (NUSAF2) to avoid them engaging in moral acts.
Patrick Mutabwire, the director Local government administration in the Ministry of Local Government said the ministry will organize a retreat for the leaders in the district on how to develop the district. He noted that leadership is about addressing economic issues and welfare of the people.
"I want to promise that after this political standoff is resolved, we shall organize a retreat for you (leaders) on how to develop the district and heal the wounds that was caused by the violence," he said.
Mutabwire warned civil servant in the district against engaging in politics and forming cliques at work places.
Badru Kiggundu, the Chairman electoral commission appealed to both Okumu and Alenyo to wait for court decision. He urged the two rival parties to help their supporters understand matters in court.
He praised William Esrom Alenyo and Robert Okumu for showing good gestures to their supporters by greeting each other. The political rivalry between Okumu and Alenyo had gone so hot that the two would not want to see eye to eye.
Both Alenyo and Okumu said they will abide by the court decision. The urged their supporters to avoid causing violence.
Global youth unemployment on the
rise – report
The
world has recorded the highest unprecedented increase in youth unemployment in
the past three years, the latest UN report has disclosed.
Although
youth unemployment rate has always exceeded that of other age groups, the
report says it climaxed in 2009 when 75.8 million young people remained
unemployed.
Released
on Tuesday, the report shows that the global youth unemployment rate was 12.6%
in 2010, dramatically overshadowing that of adults which stood at 4.8%.
It
attributes the problem mainly to the economic downturn that hit the developed
world in 2009 and to the poor education systems in most developing countries
like Uganda
which do not offer students practical skills.
“With
less experience and fewer skills than many adults, young people often encounter
particular difficulty accessing work,” states the UN world youth report 2012.
“During economic downturns, young people are often the “last in” and the “first
out” — last to be hired, first to be dismissed.”
The
report is a product of an e-discussion with the youth and representatives of
youth-led organisations on the transition from schools and training
institutions into the world of work.
The
online consultation took place from October 11, to November 7, 2011and over 300
youth participated in the dicussions conducted by the UN Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
In
Africa, Uganda
inclusive, respondents mentioned that corruption and preferential family and
political connections pose a disadvantage to most youth, as only those people
who are well placed in society appear to have access to decent jobs.
The
findings are in line with the local statistics where an estimated 83% of the
youth are unemployed, as per the African Development Indicators 2008/2009.
The
World Bank in its 2008 report said Uganda had the highest youth
unemployment rate and the youngest population in the world. It warned that
unless Uganda
scales up her efforts to create jobs, the youth would be more involved in crime
and armed conflicts.
According
to the UN report, young people who are able to find a job must accept “an
extremely low salary. Some employers are using this as an opportunity to
exploit youth.”
No
wonder, the report estimates about 152 million young workers live in households
that are below the poverty line (US$1.25per day) comprising 24% of the total
working poor.
There
are also gender disparities. Globally, in 2010, 56.3% of young males participated
in the labour force, against 40.8 per cent of young females.
The
global unemployment rate for young females was 12.9%, compared with 12.5% for
young males.
According
to the report, high rates of unemployment “discourage youth from getting
married because they won’t have enough means to build a family.”
The
majority of respondents agreed there is a need to improve the quality of
education by tailoring curricula more effectively to the labour market,
including through the development of practical skills.
They
also called for more funding towards enhancing vocational training.
