Uganda stands as a beacon of youthful energy and potential.
The country is brimming with the promise of the next generation. This youthful demographic, propelled by the increasing number of higher education institutions and a rapidly expanding tertiary education sector, should ideally signal a flourishing workforce ready to drive the country forward.
However, Uganda is facing a paradox, a situation where a growing number of graduates, many of whom are educated at high levels, are unable to find meaningful employment. This paradox, often referred to as “elite victimhood,” has far-reaching implications for both the individual and the nation at large.
One would then wonder what exactly is embedded in Uganda’s long-term promise of education. The truth is that in recent decades, Uganda has made significant strides in expanding access to education. The country boasts an increasing number of universities and vocational institutions, churning out thousands of graduates each year.
The vision of a highly educated society capable of driving economic growth has been sold to the youth as the golden ticket to success. Remember that school motto emblazoned on your school badge, “Education is the Key to Success.”
However, the reality is starkly different. Despite this surge in graduates, many of whom possess impressive qualifications, the labour market has not kept pace. Uganda’s job market remains insufficient to absorb this growing pool of educated youths, leaving many with little more than a degree and a deep sense of disillusionment.
The mismatch between educational output and job opportunities is perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of Uganda’s economic landscape. High rates of unemployment among educated youths do not only stem from a lack of jobs but from a deeper issue of underemployment.
Graduates are often forced to accept low-wage, temporary, or informal jobs that do not match their qualifications. These roles offer little opportunity for career progression and fail to tap into the intellectual and professional potential of the workforce.
This underemployment is exacerbated by an over-reliance on traditional sectors such as agriculture, which remain the largest employers but do not necessarily require advanced qualifications. Moreover, a significant portion of the workforce is engaged in informal sectors, where the concepts of job security, benefits, and professional growth are non-existent.
For the educated youth, this often translates into a form of ‘elite victimhood’ — the feeling of being trapped in an economic system that offers few opportunities, despite possessing the credentials to succeed.
Did we in anyway create this education bubble by merely focusing on academic excellence at the expense of practical skills? Have we unintentionally or intentionally (unfortunately) contributed to this crisis. In the pursuit of academic qualifications, many young people are ill-prepared for the demands of a job market that increasingly values experience over degrees.
Universities continue to churn out graduates with theoretical knowledge that often bears little relevance to the actual skills required by employers. This mismatch has led to a situation where graduates are increasingly seen as overqualified, with many employers opting to hire those with practical, hands-on skills or those with work experience, regardless of their educational background.
Moreover, the conventional educational system itself is not designed to foster entrepreneurship or vocational training, which would empower youth to create their own opportunities. Without this vital component, many graduates are left with little choice but to wait for formal job openings that never come, or worse, engage in exploitative internships that offer no financial stability.
In a country where the economic structures and policies also play a significant role in perpetuating the cycle of unemployment and underemployment, systemic deprivation is not a surprise. A lack of significant investment in sectors that can create mass employment has left the economy unable to keep up with the demands of an educated workforce.
Our policies, despite being so rosy on paper often fail to address the structural inequalities that hinder economic mobility, such as limited access to capital, poor infrastructure, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Many graduates are left questioning the value of their education and whether it was worth the financial and emotional investment. To address this crisis, as a nation we must rethink our approach to education, employment, and economic development. A holistic approach that includes not only an emphasis on academic excellence but also practical skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation is needed.
Investing in sectors that create sustainable jobs and focus on creating an ecosystem that supports small businesses and start-ups.
The writer is a journalist and public health professional
You have painted a hopeless picture about what’s realistic on ground.
The real solution is a total overhaul that involves the political question as seen by the recent executive orders by H.E Donald Trump in USA. For now, let’s manage the crisis because of poor governance.