What you need to know:
- Limited access to finance and weak infrastructure further undermine the ability of young people to start their own businesses or engage in entrepreneurship.
Youth unemployment is a growing crisis in Uganda, with serious consequences for economic stability and social cohesion. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) 2024 report, young people make up 77 percent of the population.
As the population increases, so does the demand for jobs, especially among youth who leave school each year only to face limited opportunities. Uganda’s struggle with youth unemployment is further worsened by environmental challenges.
In recent years, the country has been hit by severe floods and landslides in Kasese, Manafwa, and Bududa, and prolonged droughts in the northern region. These climate-related disasters have deepened socio-economic problems such as food insecurity and joblessness, leaving young people more vulnerable than ever.
Each year, thousands of graduates from universities across Uganda struggle to find meaningful employment.
This is often due to a mismatch between their academic training and the needs of the job market. Moreover, rapid population growth has outpaced the creation of decent jobs.
Limited access to finance and weak infrastructure further undermine the ability of young people to start their own businesses or engage in entrepreneurship.
However, clean energy innovations offer a hopeful and practical solution to these intersecting challenges. Innovations in clean energy such as briquette production and solar energy systems are emerging as promising avenues for youth employment and sustainable development.
Training young people in this technology empowers them to become entrepreneurs, creating small businesses involved in producing and selling briquettes. This not only generates income but also helps reduce deforestation and improves public health by replacing wood and charcoal with cleaner fuel alternatives.
The solar energy sector is another rapidly expanding field with potential to absorb many unemployed youth. From solar panel installation and maintenance to project management and sales, the industry presents a range of job opportunities.
While start-up capital remains a challenge, integrating solar training into education systems can equip youth with the skills they need to succeed in this growing market.
At the same time, solar energy reduces dependence on fossil fuels, cuts greenhouse gas emissions and supports environmental conservation. Investing in youth-led clean energy initiatives is a win-win.
It creates jobs, fights climate change, and promotes a more resilient and inclusive economy. Uganda has the potential to transform its unemployment crisis into an opportunity by empowering its youth with skills and resources to lead in the clean energy transition.
With the right support through training, access to finance, and policy reforms we can unlock the potential of young Ugandans to drive innovation, protect the environment and build a sustainable future for all.
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