Youth Unemployment Remains Major Challenge Despite Rising Number of Graduates

What the report says

Thousands of young Ugandans are continuing to struggle to find work after graduation, according to Nile Post, with many taking casual labor or unrelated jobs after failing to secure formal employment. The report says the problem is especially visible among young people who leave universities, colleges and vocational institutions each year and then enter a labour market that cannot absorb them.

In Mityana town, the article describes groups of job seekers gathering near the Gaz fuel station each day in hopes of finding temporary work in gardens and other manual tasks. Local youths quoted in the piece said repeated job applications often lead nowhere, and that some qualified graduates eventually accept whatever work is available to survive. They also pointed to corruption and favouritism in recruitment as barriers that can push applicants out of opportunities they believe should be based on merit.

The article cites figures from the Economic Policy Research Centre saying Makerere University released about 13,000 graduates in January 2025, while more than 25,000 young Ugandans enter the labour market annually from higher learning and training institutions. The report uses these numbers to show the growing mismatch between education output and available jobs.

Beyond the immediate hardship, the story reflects a broader concern in Uganda about underemployment, practical skills and the role of private-sector and entrepreneurship opportunities. The youths quoted in the report are urging government to curb corruption in hiring and to expand pathways that help education translate into real livelihoods.