Why Uganda should prioritise vocational skilling

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OPINION

By Mercy Akankunda

Across Uganda’s rural landscape, young people rise each day with determination to work the land, feed families, and keep local economies alive. Yet despite their energy, opportunities remain scarce. Formal jobs are hard to come by, especially in rural districts, and thousands of youth leave school without the skills employers demand.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) reports that over 70 percent of Uganda’s population is below 30 years, making it one of the youngest in the world. With such a youthful population, creating employment through vocational training is no longer optional; it is a national necessity.

According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, Uganda’s population stands at around 45.9 million, and most of these people live in rural areas where formal employment is almost nonexistent. Rural youth often depend on small-scale farming, but limited access to modern agricultural skills and technology keeps productivity low. Vocational skilling offers a bridge, teaching young people practical trades like tailoring, carpentry, mechanics, bricklaying, crafts, and agribusiness that can be applied immediately to generate income and stimulate local economies.

When youth gain hands-on skills, they become job creators rather than job seekers. A trained carpenter can serve local construction needs, a skilled tailor can supply school uniforms within the community, and a youth trained in solar installation can light up homes in off-grid villages. Each of these small enterprises strengthens rural resilience and keeps money circulating locally.

According to the Ministry of Education and Sports, every vocational graduate in Uganda supports an average of three to five dependents through their earnings, showing the ripple effect such training has on rural livelihoods.

However, vocational skilling in rural Uganda still faces serious challenges. Many rural training centres lack modern tools and qualified instructors. Some districts have no formal training facilities at all, forcing youth to migrate to towns in search of opportunities. In addition, vocational education is still viewed by many families as a last resort for academic failures. Changing this perception is crucial. Communities must begin to see vocational careers as dignified and profitable, especially as they respond directly to local needs.

Government initiatives like the Skilling Uganda Strategic Plan aim to address these challenges by improving the quality and relevance of vocational education. According to the Ministry of Education, the goal is to make skills training more competency-based and aligned with labour market needs. NGOs and private sector partners have also joined in, establishing community-based training programs in tailoring, weaving, and agricultural processing. Yet more investment is needed to expand these efforts to remote areas where unemployment and poverty remain highest.

To maximise impact, vocational programs must also integrate entrepreneurship and climate-smart practices. Training rural youth in sustainable agriculture, value addition, and small business management helps them adapt to environmental challenges while building stronger local economies. A young person who learns how to process and package agricultural products, for example, earns more and creates jobs for others.

Uganda’s future prosperity lies not only in urban technology hubs but also in the hands of rural youth who are skilled, creative, and resilient. Prioritising vocational skilling in rural areas can reduce unemployment, curb rural-urban migration, and turn villages into centres of innovation and productivity. As one UBOS report noted, meaningful employment through skills development is the surest path to inclusive growth. For Uganda, empowering rural youth through vocational training is not just about jobs; it is about transforming communities from the ground up.

Now is the time for government ministries, development partners, and the private sector to invest more boldly in rural vocational training. Equipping training centres, funding community programs, and providing start-up tools for graduates will not only create jobs but also build lasting hope in Uganda’s villages.

The writer is with Proven Foundation

Mercyakankunda124@gmail.com