Uganda: The Future of Work for Youth

This policy briefing outlines recommendations to address youth unemployment in Uganda, based on the 'Youth and Social Justice Futures: Identifying Future Skills and Training in Africa' project. The project utilized Youth Futures Literacy Labs and the Three Horizons Framework to engage youth and stakeholders in imagining alternative futures. Key strategic priorities include combating corruption, modernizing the agricultural sector, and reforming the education system to align with 21st-century labor market needs.

• Youth unemployment in Uganda is higher than the national average. Between 2012/13 and 2016/17, the unemployment rate for those aged 18–30 rose from 12.7% to 13.3%, while the overall national rate decreased from 11.1% to 9.2%. As of 2023, the total labor force was 18,197,126 people, with unemployment rates of 13.5% for men and 20.4% for women.
• Marital status significantly impacts employment outcomes in Uganda. Divorced youth have the highest unemployment rate at 32.37%, followed by married youth at 16.13%, and single youth at 7.99%.
• Uganda faces significant corruption challenges, ranking 142 out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2022 Corruption Perception Index with a score of 26. The briefing recommends operationalizing the Anti-Corruption Act of 2009 and empowering the Inspectorate of Government, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to prosecute offenders.
• Agriculture is the largest employer and the backbone of Uganda's economy, contributing over 20% of the GDP. To boost growth and create jobs, the briefing suggests investing in infrastructure (roads and storage), mechanization, and practical training in areas such as pest control, irrigation, and post-harvest handling.
• The education system requires reform to bridge the gap between academic training and labor market needs. Recommendations include updating the curriculum to support critical thinking and problem solving, increasing access to vocational and technical training in IT, construction, manufacturing, and agriculture, and promoting entrepreneurship.
• Many Ugandan youth, particularly women, migrate to the Middle East for work, where approximately 165,000 Ugandans are currently employed. These workers often face physical and sexual abuse from employers in a process described as 'labour expropriation'.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2024). Uganda: The Future of Work for Youth. https://saiia.org.za/research/uganda-the-future-of-work-for-youth/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Uganda: The Future of Work for Youth. 2024. https://saiia.org.za/research/uganda-the-future-of-work-for-youth/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Uganda: The Future of Work for Youth |date=14 February 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/uganda-the-future-of-work-for-youth/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2024uganda, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Uganda: The Future of Work for Youth}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/uganda-the-future-of-work-for-youth/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }