On Friday, January 9, 2026, President Yoweri Museveni addressed National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders from the West Nile sub-region at Muni University, offering a comprehensive strategy for tackling youth unemployment in the area.
Private Sector as the Key Solution to Unemployment
Museveni emphasized that the solution to Uganda’s unemployment challenge, particularly among youth, lies not in the government providing jobs directly but in fostering private sector growth. He reminded the leaders that since 1996, the government has focused on supporting private sector job creation through infrastructure development, such as roads and electricity, and affordable capital.
Museveni referenced several initiatives, such as Entandikwa, NAADS, and Operation Wealth Creation, which were designed to provide financial support to citizens and encourage them to invest in wealth creation activities.
Examples of Successful Wealth Creation
To illustrate the success of wealth creation efforts, Museveni highlighted the example of Johnson Basangwa from Kamuli District, who started a poultry farming business in 2007. Initially working with a small plot of land, Basangwa now produces 2,000 trays of eggs per day, earning about 20 million Ugandan shillings, and employs over 300 people. Museveni stressed that this example proves that jobs can be created locally and not only by the government.
Focus on Small Enterprises and the Parish Development Model (PDM)
President Museveni also pointed out that small enterprises, even those started with limited capital, could create significant job opportunities. He encouraged NRM leaders to share this message with youth, stressing that anyone who creates a job for themselves can also create jobs for others.
He further discussed the Parish Development Model (PDM), a key initiative designed to offer affordable capital to citizens for starting businesses. By joining Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs), Ugandans can access financial support to fund entrepreneurial ventures and build wealth.
Industrialization as a Job Creation Driver
Museveni concluded by underscoring the role of industrialization in job creation. He cited the success of industrial parks like Mbale Industrial Park, which hosts 75 factories employing over 12,000 people, and Namanve Industrial Park, with 273 factories employing more than 44,000 workers. He also encouraged the West Nile leaders to secure land for a new industrial park in the region, promising to bring in investors to set up factories.
Museveni’s address reinforced his long-standing belief that industrialization and private sector growth are essential for tackling unemployment and driving economic development in Uganda.
