• President Museveni has discouraged Ugandan youths from seeking work in the Middle East, insisting Uganda holds greater job potential.
  • He pledged to revive the Graduate Fund, giving startup capital to graduates unemployed for over two years.
  • Museveni said government will expand local opportunities through ICT, agriculture, and industrialization.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has discouraged Ugandan youths from flocking the Middle East in search of job opportunities. He advised them to search within the country instead of rushing abroad in search of work, insisting that Uganda has more potential for jobs than foreign destinations like Dubai.

Speaking to supporters shortly after his nomination as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate in Lweza by the Electoral Commission, Museveni also announced that government will introduce a new Graduate Fund. This will be aimed at supporting young people who have failed to secure jobs within two years of completing university.

“We are going to revive my long-age idea of starting up a fund for university graduates, where someone who has finished university and has not found a job in two years gets startup capital,” President Museveni said.

Apparently the pledge is part of a wider package of funds he promised to different social and economic groups, aimed at tackling unemployment and supporting inclusive growth.

RELATED ARTICLES

Additionally, Museveni assured young people that Uganda itself holds vast opportunities for wealth creation.

“When you find our children going into Dubai, what are they going to do in Dubai? Here we have got more potential for more jobs than the Dubais can have. We’ve got everything here,” Museveni said.

The President, who described himself humorously as a “former young person,” told the youth that he understands their struggles and life stages.

“Don’t you see me here? I am a former young person. So don’t I know how to be young? I know how to be middle age. I now know also how to be old. I know everything,” he said to cheers.

Furthermore, Museveni also emphasized that while many young Ugandans seek work abroad, government is committed to expanding opportunities at home through industrialization, ICT, agriculture, and specialized support funds like the new Graduate Fund.

The President who has a ‘Gen Z’s for Gen. Museveni’ will be hoping that his appeals and promises entice the majority youth population to vote him back into power for his 8th term.