New deal to address youth unemployment

Youths queue up to apply for jobs. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics Youth Employment 2011/12 report indicates that one in every three youths in Uganda is unemployed. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU. 

By FARIDAH KULABAKO

Posted  Thursday, February 7  2013 at  02:00

In Summary

Benefit. The alliance will enhance the employability landscape and address youth unemployment in Uganda.

Despite having many sectors with huge employment potential, the big skills gap is partly responsible for the high unemployment rate in the country and massive death rates for small businesses, industry experts have said.

Kampala businessman Patrick Bitature said most small businesses die either in the first or second year of establishment because owners lack the needed skills to run a successful and profitable enterprise.

He said this yesterday, while signing a partnership between River Point – a centre that will be in charge of skills development - and Centum Learning Limited – global training and skills development solutions firm – where the two will collaborate to drive skilling solutions and training programmes across Uganda.

“With the alliance, we will be able to address the high youth unemployment and low ICT usage challenge. It will also be able to enhance the employability landscape in Uganda.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics Youth Employment 2011/12 report indicates that one in every three youths in Uganda is unemployed.

Mr Sanjeev Duggal, Centum Learning chief executive officer, said the skills training will be driven by labour market needs and will be delivered through both dedicated and mobile centres, among others.

Opportunities
Mr Duggal, however, said the oil and gas, construction, tourism and telecom sectors are some of the sectors with huge employment opportunities but few people have the required skills to tap into the opportunities that these sectors offer.

Mr Deepak Kataria, the vice president – operations, Centum Learning Africa said, for intance, Uganda has 15,000 tower sites mechanics deficit because people don’t have the required skills.

He added: “People don’t know that there is that gap which they should take advantage of.”

fkulabako@ug.nationmedia.com