As formal employment opportunities continue to narrow in both the public and private sectors following hard economic times, the chairman of the Indian Association Uganda, Paresh Mehta, has advised the people of Uganda to consider utilising available resources to set up their own businesses.
This, he said, will not only sustain their source of income and enable them to fend for their families with ease, but will also create job opportunities for those who will be hired to run such enterprises.
‘Take courage and be determined to start something even when the business road seems not to be smooth. Success comes to those who dare to start something and work hard towards achieving their desired economic status,’ Mr Mehta told hundreds of guests who graced the grand opening of Le Man’s Auto Works at Lugogo, Kampala on December 6, 2025. The even was attended by Indian Community in Uganda and representatives from the Indian High Commission in Uganda.
Mr Mehta said that most of the Indians had mastered the art of creating their own jobs and they are hardly hit by the unemployment crisis.
The recent aid freeze by the President of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump, that saw thousands of organisations lose donor support, saw thousands of employees lose jobs, worsening the unemployment crisis in many countries, including Uganda.
The COVID-19 crisis that paralysed economies worldwide and left employers limping, necessitated employees to think out of the box, by creating their own jobs using personal resources or those provided by the government.
According to MasterCard Foundation, existing impact evaluation studies suggest that specific programmes, such as the Uganda Youth Livelihood Program, the Uganda Women Empowerment Program, and the Presidential Women Skilling Program, have demonstrated positive outcomes in creating employment opportunities for different categories of Ugandans, enabling them to generate income.
Most young Ugandans with innovative ideas lack the capital to start green businesses.
A report from the National Planning Authority (NPA) indicated that 4.2 million youths in Uganda are neither in employment, education, nor training, representing 41 percent of the country’s younger population.
‘What Le Man auto works brought is very unique. They are not only opening a motor garage, but also building a dream to give a great investment in the country and by repairing many lives by creating more job opportunities. This is a great way of giving back to the nation. Let us support each other,’ Mr Mehta said.
Mr Arshad Bholim, the Chief Executive Officer, Le-Man Authoworks, advised clients to seek services from trusted sources to avoid falling victim.