Kabale University played host to the 15th Annual Deans of Students and Guild Leaders’ Conference, where academic leaders and student representatives from universities across Uganda joined forces to address the pressing issue of youth unemployment. The conference, held from September 20th to 23rd, 2023, brought together voices from both public and private higher education institutions.

The resounding call from this year's conference was for the Ugandan government to ramp up funding for innovation initiatives as a potent strategy to combat the escalating challenge of youth unemployment.

Owen Mukonyezi, the Guild President of Mountains of the Moon University, Fort Portal, and Ms. Hibah Asiimwe, the Guild President of Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), identified the root cause of the unemployment crisis as academic courses that have become disconnected from the job market's demands. They passionately urged the government to prioritize practical and innovative courses that equip students with the skills required for immediate employment upon graduation.

Amos Tukamushaba, the Dean of Students at Kabale University, conveyed to the press that boosting funding for innovation programs within universities could significantly reduce the youth unemployment rate. Tukamushaba pointed out that although students possess innovative ideas, many lack the financial resources needed to turn these ideas into reality. He emphasized that government investment in these projects could lead to the creation of more job opportunities, thus reducing reliance on traditional employment avenues.

During her keynote address, Professor Joy Constance Kwesiga, the Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, revealed that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) was providing financial support to Kabale University to establish a business and innovation incubation hub. This hub will cater to students and local community members with innovative ideas, underlining the importance of fostering innovation in society. However, Professor Kwesiga also acknowledged the financial challenges associated with offering free education for skills and innovation courses at the university level, encouraging young people to consider short technical courses as a means of preparing themselves for self-employment.

The urgency of this call for increased funding for innovation and practical courses in universities is underscored by the alarming trend of rising unemployment in Uganda. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) abstract in 2022, the overall unemployment rate in the country rose to 12% in 2021, up from 8.8% in 2019/20, with youth bearing a particularly heavy burden.

As academic leaders and student representatives join hands in this collective appeal for more substantial investment in innovation and practical education, the hope is to turn the tide on Uganda's youth unemployment crisis and create a brighter future for the nation's aspiring workforce.