UMWA, Smart Transitions Launch Ghetto Youth Skills Empowerment Project
Kampala, Uganda — In a country where over 78% of the population is under the age of 30, Uganda’s youth represent both a vital promise for national development and a pressing challenge. Despite their demographic dominance, millions of young Ugandans face critical barriers ranging from limited access to education, high unemployment rates, and a lack of economic independence.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2021 report, approximately 9.3 million Ugandans aged 12–30 are neither in school, employed, nor engaged in any form of vocational training. This concerning statistic is not only a lost opportunity but also a looming threat, with links to rising crime rates and social instability.
Over the past decade, the Ugandan government has rolled out several initiatives aimed at skilling its young population. These include the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Skilling Uganda Strategy (2012), and the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl Child, among others. These programs were designed to provide practical, marketable skills and foster entrepreneurship among youth. However, gaps in implementation, limited funding have continued to hinder widespread impact.
In response to the rising crisis of youth unemployment, several Ugandan non-governmental organizations including the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA), Smart Transitions, and the Betterman Project have come together to launch a bold new initiative: the Ghetto Youth Skills Empowerment Project.
The project was officially launched today at the UMWA head office in Kisaasi, Kampala. According to Dorothy Nanyonga, Program Officer under Smart Transitions, the initiative is targeting young men and women aged 13 to 35. These youths, particularly those from informal settlements, will be trained in a range of vocational skills such as tailoring, weaving, hairdressing, and more.
“This project is a three-year program and will be entirely free of charge for beneficiaries,” Nanyonga said. “At the end of their training, students will be assessed by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and awarded certificates of completion. Some of the graduates will also receive startup capital to support their entry into the job market.”
The project will primarily focus on areas like Nakawa and Kawempe, with the goal of skilling over 1,800 youth. According to Babirekere Clothilda, Coordinator for the Kisaasi cluster, the initiative specifically targets school dropouts, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and unemployed youth.
The Kisaasi cluster has received UGX 1.1 billion, while Smart Transitions was allocated USD 300,000 for training and equipping youth with practical skills.
Clothilda has also highlighted crucial components of the program: financial literacy and enterprise development. “We are not just training youth to acquire skills, but also empowering them to access capital, manage money, and run successful youth-led enterprises,” she noted. “The project will also promote a culture of saving and financial responsibility among participants.”
By the end of the project in 2028, the Ghetto Youth Skills Empowerment Project aims to: Skill over 1,000 youth across targeted areas, strengthen 1,625 youth-led enterprises, Facilitate the digitalization of at least 45 youth-led Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), Promote financial inclusion and long-term economic independence
The project organizers have called upon government ministries and agencies to provide policy support and create a conducive environment that allows such initiatives to thrive and scale.
As Uganda grapples with the challenge of turning its youthful population into a productive workforce, partnerships between NGOs, communities, and government agencies will be key to transforming potential into prosperity.