The excitement we experienced upon receiving our admission to Makerere University was a dream come true for everyone, similar to the journeys of other young people who gained admission to different institutions of higher learning. We nurtured aspirations to further our education and secure employment. I enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree, like many of my peers, and we diligently completed our degrees. During our academic journey, a fortunate few among us had the opportunity to participate in a skills workshop organised by Charles Ocici in collaboration with Enterprise Uganda.
With great enthusiasm, we applied the knowledge acquired. Through the streets of Kampala, we ventured into the markets. As dynamic young individuals, we engaged in various self-entrepreneurial activities, aware that the job market would not accommodate all of us. Little did we realise that the government was not as dedicated to supporting emerging entrepreneurs, particularly the youth, irrespective of whether educated or uneducated.
For the past 40 years, the NRM government has remained in power, yet there has been a lack of significant actions taken to enhance employment opportunities or to assist emerging entrepreneurs. We find ourselves as a marginalised generation, energetic facing a bleak future. Historically, the educated population was perceived as those who solely desired clean, white-collar positions. However, the soaring unemployment rates have compelled us to seek opportunities on the streets, but regrettably, the streets have not embraced us. Those who were less fortunate and did not receive an education were considered fortunate in the past, as they managed to thrive and succeed in life. In contrast to today’s circumstances, they too are now lamenting their plight.
A limited number of promising job opportunities are not awarded based on merit. For instance, if one were to conduct a background check, it would become evident that individuals within government ministries often have personal connections. This phenomenon extends to local government and is gradually infiltrating private sector entities as well. The regime’s economic policy is defined more by patronage than by productivity. The ruling government is of the opinion that by promoting a robust private sector with a multitude of formal job opportunities, they may unintentionally nurture citizens who have financial stability, thereby empowering them to question authority, back Opposition movements, and demand accountability. It seems that there is a trend of policies designed to suppress genuine job creation.
Amidst the challenges faced by the youth and the average Ugandan, there exists an entitled generation comprised of the children of the ruling elite. They have been educated in prestigious private schools and have benefited from free university education, both in Ugandan institutions and abroad. What a privilege it is! I distinctly recall the university presidents’ scholarships; one might wonder how these were obtained, as many of the recipients hailed from affluent families. Some of these students had the advantage of switching from one programme to another after being deregistered due to poor performance in their initial programme. Others simply left without completing their respective courses.
The latest initiative was the oil and gas sector programme, which, upon its introduction, was fundamentally rooted in political patronage and connections, primarily benefiting the offspring of wealthy individuals and those with political ties. In many foreign universities, a significant portion of international students’ hails from wealthy families or those who manage to secure government positions through bribery, enabling them to afford this international education. Only a small number of individuals are fortunate enough to obtain legitimate scholarships, which are not financed by the Ugandan government.
This entitled generation has their positions prearranged. Their futures are not reliant on uncertain start-ups but are instead guaranteed through government employment and family businesses. This inequality is generating significant anger, which is certainly a ticking time bomb. A crucial question arises; what happens when the marginalised generation ceases to wait?