Where is the future of Uganda?

Uganda is located in East Africa astride the equator. It is bordered by the Sudan in the North, Kenya in the East, Tanzania and Rwanda in the South and Democratic Republic of Congo in the West. It shares Lake Victoria with Tanzania and Kenya. Uganda is landlocked and lies in the equatorial belt with temperatures between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics has indicated that worldwide, Uganda is the leading country with the youngest population of 78% below the age of 30 years. Currently 21.3% Ugandans are in the age group of 18-30. Of the students who graduated in 2011, only 33% were able to find employment in the formal sector. This is partly explained by the small private sector and the failure to match the skills needed in the economy. Thus it is a key challenge affecting tertiary and university education in Uganda.

The UN put Africa as the continent with the youngest population in the world due to the fact that over 200 million people in Africa are aged between 15 and 24 years.  The Africa Union Commission agrees with this fact by stating that 65% of the total population in Africa are aged below 35 years and 35% are between 15 and 35 years. These statistics could be indicators of a ticking time bomb or an opportunity for the continent to rise higher (John Wesonga,) 

A report launched by State Investment Minister Gabriel Ajedra alongside the World Population Report in 2014 showed that the national population of Uganda stood at 34.9 million, and was predominantly youthful about (75 percent). The Minister noted that the situation would place the nation in peril in the near future. 

The rampant duplication of courses especially by illegitimate and illegal institutions has contributed to rise of unemployment of youths in the market. (Sarah Bunoti, 2001). Graduates from institutions of higher learning in Uganda experience both a high rate of unemployment and underemployment due to programs and courses that are not relevant to the job market.

With Uganda's unemployment rate at near 83 percent, the government is being challenged by a group of former students who have formed the National Association of the Unemployed.  Uganda has one of the highest rates of unemployment on the African continent. The group is asking the government for widespread reforms to ease unemployment burdens.

Uganda is ranked 122nd (out of 144) in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competiveness Index and 150th in the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ Index.

All in all, where is the future of Uganda?