People
Pursue entrepreneurship skills and stick to productive activities, youth urged
Muyimbwa added that Uganda's growing urban population, rising smartphone use, and evolving fashion taste create a strong market for any specialised consumer brands, thereby encouraging fellow youth to start small and create their own jobs other than seeking employment from government and several institutions.
Muyimbwa urged fellow youth to use social media not just for entertainment and attacking government officials but to advertise their products, businesses and social networking for a better life.
By: Moses Nsubuga, Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - Youth have been encouraged to shift from seeking formal jobs to creating their own ventures, so as to reduce high unemployment and the significant number of young people not in employment.
"I have used social media not just to advertise, but to demonstrate products, explain lens technology, and build direct trust with customers. This reflects a wider trend in Ugandan entrepreneurship. Based in Kampala but reaching customers online, I have positioned myself at the intersection of fashion, technology, and eye care. So, I call upon all the youth to not sit back, get what to do, use your phone with purpose, that cyber crimes," remarked Nelson Muyimbwa of Nellie Shades.
Muyimbwa added that Uganda's growing urban population, rising smartphone use, and evolving fashion taste create a strong market for any specialised consumer brands, thereby encouraging fellow youth to start small and create their own jobs other than seeking employment from government and several institutions.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), national youth unemployment stands at roughly 17% to 18%, but urban informal and slum areas within Makindye Division face severe underemployment, with only about 21.6% of youth engaged in formal paid employment.
Police and UBOS reports have pointed to skyrocketing crime rates, widespread substance abuse, severe mental health crises, and the rapid expansion of informal urban slums in the area as being caused by youth unemployment and lack of skills.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), national youth unemployment stands at roughly 17% to 18%, but urban informal and slum areas within Makindye Division face severe underemployment, with only about 21.6% of youth engaged in formal paid employment.
Police and UBOS reports have pointed to skyrocketing crime rates, widespread substance abuse, severe mental health crises, and the rapid expansion of informal urban slums in the area as being caused by youth unemployment and lack of skills.
To reduce the crime rate among youth, Muyimbwa believes skilling youth and engaging in various productive activities will keep them away from crime.
"I started Nellie Shades after noticing a simple everyday problem: people need different glasses for different situations. One pair for computers indoors, another for bright sunlight outdoors, and perhaps another for driving. So, I saw an opportunity and combined these functions, thereby creating my own business and serving my clients," he stressed.
He urged fellow youth to use social media not just for entertainment and attacking government officials but to advertise their products, businesses and social networking for a better life.
"I started Nellie Shades after noticing a simple everyday problem: people need different glasses for different situations. One pair for computers indoors, another for bright sunlight outdoors, and perhaps another for driving. So, I saw an opportunity and combined these functions, thereby creating my own business and serving my clients," he stressed.
He urged fellow youth to use social media not just for entertainment and attacking government officials but to advertise their products, businesses and social networking for a better life.