Unemployment: Focus on mindset change, skilling

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OPINION

By Quillino Bamwine

Back in the day, the only education journey that was acceptable was joining primary education, proceeding to secondary, and later enrolling at university.

This was what was termed as success in education. Joining a vocational institute was seen as a sign of failure.

This was the stereotype in society for a long time. However, today, going through conventional education and graduating from university is not a magic bullet to employment and success.

In fact, vocational education is providing a better alternative in countries that have embraced it. This is the mindset change we need among the youth in Uganda today. To understand that the future for the youth lies in acquiring vocational skills.

Over the years, the Government has established industrial parks in different parts of the country. These parks are home to industries providing thousands of jobs. However, only those with skills acquired through vocational training stand a better chance of getting the jobs.

As a country, we must move away from the conventional education which trains students for white-collar jobs that are very few. We must act now and inculcate a culture of mindset change among the youth to embrace vocational training.

Uganda’s youth unemployment crisis is a ticking time bomb. With over 78% of the population under 30 and unemployment rates soaring, the urgency for solutions cannot be overstated.

While infrastructure projects like industrial parks are vital, the real “magic bullet” lies in mindset transformation and vocational skilling.

Shifting youth attitudes toward self-reliance, coupled with targeted skills training, is the key to unlocking Uganda’s economic potential. Uganda’s education system has long prioritised academic credentials over practical skills, fostering a culture where white-collar jobs are glorified. Many youths shun vocational work, viewing it as inferior — a mindset rooted in colonial-era elitism. This attitude is unsustainable.

The global trends have shifted to vocational education as the solution to unemployment and the creation of ground-breaking innovations. Germany’s dual education system, which blends classroom learning with apprenticeships, proves this model works. Youth must embrace trades like welding, carpentry and agribusiness as dignified pathways to wealth.

Vocational skills are key ingredients in nurturing a spirit of entrepreneurship and job creation. Industrial parks need skilled workers, but youth often wait for “office jobs.” A mindset shift toward job creation (e.g., startups, co-operatives) is critical.

The Kampala Industrial and Business Park has thousands of vacancies for technicians, yet many remain unfilled due to skill gaps.

Every youth wants to graduate from university, yet jobs for university graduates are very few. The job market needs graduates with vocational skills. Even as a graduate, you need to undergo vocational training to be competitive in the job market.

Vocational skilling is the engine for industrial growth, and the government's strategy to have more Senior 4 leavers join vocational institutes is the way to go. The Government should invest more resources in vocational institutes to ensure that they have modern equipment, which is key for the institutes to provide sufficient skills training in manufacturing, welding, machinery operation and quality control.

Others are agro processing: Food packaging, dairy technology and value addition.

In construction, masonry, plumbing, and electrical installation have the potential to create thousands of jobs. St Kizito Vocational Institute in Namugongo reports 85% employment rates for graduates in industrial parks. Youth Livelihood Programme beneficiaries in Lira have opened metal workshops, supplying local industries. Under the Presidential Youth Initiative, several youths have been offered training and machinery to set up workshops for carpentry and metalwork, among others. The Government should work closely with the private sector to achieve this.

Relatedly, schools should integrate vocational training into secondary education, and private vocational training institutions should be given tax incentives. Going forward, youth should reject the “degree only” mentality, and parents must support their children’s choice of vocational path.

Uganda’s industrial parks will remain hollow without a skilled workforce. Mindset change is not optional — it is existential. By embracing vocational skilling, youth can transform from job seekers to job creators, fuelling national growth. I urge stakeholders to act now: Unemployment’s cure lies in the hands of the youth — literally.

The writer is the Honorary Consul General of Eswatini Kingdom in Uganda