The major drivers of skills demand are economic growth, the expansion of primary and secondary education, urbanisation, demographic changes and global competitiveness.

These call for higher-order competencies and employability skills that can use new technologies and perform complex tasks efficiently.

Youth in Uganda are the youngest population in the world, with 77% of its population being under 25 years of age as there are an estimated 7.3 million youth from the ages of 15–24 years of age.

However, the current annual skilling capacity in Uganda is unable to match the skill demand, with many initiatives unaligned and suffering from a lack of co-ordination with key obstacles which include the negative image and low aspirational value of vocational education, as well as a lack of effort to integrate vocational training education (VET) with general education.

It is upon this that, the leaders from West Nile, Acholi and Bunyoro regions have called on the Government and development partners to accelerate the provision of soft skills to the adolescents and youth in the country.

The leaders made the demand during a two-day engagement with the different stakeholders from the three regions on the adolescent and youth skills learning event in Arua city on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

The engagement was organised by the gender ministry and UNICEF in collaboration with the education ministry.

The engagement attracted different stakeholders, including Education Officers, TVET co-ordinators, district technical leaders headed by chief administrative officers and Resident District Commissioners, probation officer, youth-led organisations UN Agencies and civil society organizations. These were from 10 districts of Arua, Kiryandongo, Lamwo, Adjumani, Kitgum, Madi-Okollo, Terego, Nebbi, Obongi and Gulu.

Khushbakht Hojiev, the Adolescent Development Manager UNICEF, said the main objective of the engagement is to understand how UNICEF can support government and line ministries in the institutionalisation of transferable formal and non-formal skills in schools and in collaborating with TVET institutions to develop skilling programs in various districts.

While delivering the keynote address during the workshop, Commissioner for Children and Youth and Focal point person Uganda UN-Joint Adolescent youth program in the gender ministry Mondo Kyateka confirmed that 41% of Ugandan youth are neither in employment, education nor any form of training.

Mondo said there is a need to invest and prioritise the skilling of adolescents and youth in all districts and integrate into the fourth National Development Plan in line with the Uganda United Nations Joint Adolescent and Youth Programme (UNYJP) involving 13 UN agencies costing $22.5m to collectively address youth-related actions under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

Education ministry deputy technical advisor Rosette Nanyanzi said the ministry’s struggle with the young people in terms of unemployment due to lack of skills has been a big challenge as she appeals for inculcation of skilling in children from an early stage.

Terego district vice-chairperson Sunday Ayikoru emphasized the need for mindset change in the region and country since most parents have absconded from their parenting roles.

She appeals for the Government to include skills in the curriculum.

John Bosco Aparaku, the district planner Adjumani says there is a need to give more time to the youths in discussing with them what can be best for them through their structures.

Meanwhile, the district female youth councillor for Lamwo district, Doris Abalo, challenged the stakeholders not to only look at the youth from a negative angle but rather encourage them to take up opportunities in skilling and other programs.

The settlement commandant Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe district, Micheal Nabugere, lamented that many youth today look at skills-related works such as bricklaying as a curse and punishment instead of a blessing.

According to him, the Government and partners should identify the areas of needs and interests of adolescents and youths before enrolling them in any form of skills training.