Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has emphasized the crucial role of universities and tertiary institutions in preparing graduates for the job market, particularly in the private sector.
In a message delivered by Vice President Jessica Alupo at the 30th graduation ceremony of Bugema University, Museveni acknowledged the progress Uganda has made in improving access to education but underscored the importance of aligning academic programs with the skills needed by a rapidly changing global economy.
In his message, President Museveni provided a historical context for the nation’s educational evolution, starting from 1986 when Uganda’s human resources were plagued by limited education, poor health, and a lack of essential skills.
He highlighted key government interventions, including the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1996, Universal Secondary Education (USE) in 2007, and health improvements through better maternal care and mass immunization campaigns.
These initiatives, he said, have contributed significantly to increasing access to education and improving life expectancy.
“Before 1986, Uganda’s human resources were poor,” Museveni said. “There was a lack of education opportunities, lack of skills, and poor health. But since then, we’ve made remarkable progress, thanks to the government’s interventions.”
The statistics he presented were telling: adult literacy has soared to 80% from 43% in 1986, and life expectancy has risen from 43 years in 1986 to 65 years today.
Museveni attributed these achievements to the government’s policies under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) administration, which have focused on building a healthy and educated population.
However, he noted that despite these advancements, a major challenge still looms—unemployment, particularly among university graduates.
The president emphasized that the main challenge Uganda faces today is not a lack of education but the growing number of unemployed graduates, particularly among the youth.
He described this as a “good challenge” because it is one that can be addressed.
The solution, he argued, lies in universities prioritizing the teaching of courses that are aligned with the needs of the private sector.
“While the public sector offers only 469,216 jobs, our population is now 45 million,” Museveni pointed out.
“This means that most of our graduates must look for work in the private sector.”
In stark contrast to past governments that he said stifled the private sector, Museveni celebrated the NRM’s efforts to create a favorable business environment that attracts both local and foreign investment.
The government’s commitment to infrastructure, including reliable electricity and good roads, as well as peace and security, has set the stage for industrialization an essential step for creating jobs and reducing the nation’s reliance on imports.
The president warned that Uganda’s excessive importation of goods not only drains the country’s financial resources but also sends jobs overseas.
He called for increased local industrial production to retain both money and employment within the country.
“More industries mean more jobs for Ugandans and more taxes for the government to invest in development,” Museveni noted.
He also specifically urged educational institutions to focus on courses that are not only relevant but that also help graduates to be more adaptable to the changing needs of the labor market.
“I appeal to universities to ensure that the courses offered equip students with the skills the private sector is looking for,” he said.
“As the government attracts more investments, the demand for a skilled and productive workforce will also increase. Students must be responsive to these changes.”
He further encouraged the graduates of Bugema University to become agents of socio-economic transformation, applying their knowledge and skills to benefit both their communities and the nation at large.
In his speech, the president also acknowledged the sacrifices made by parents and the government to provide education to the youth, urging the graduates to stay focused and avoid distractions such as substance abuse and reckless lifestyles.
He emphasized that much was expected of them, quoting the Bible verse from Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
“Your parents and the government have made huge sacrifices to educate you,” Museveni reminded the graduates.
“It would be an act of indiscipline to waste away your lives in trivialities after all this effort.”
Museveni also took the opportunity to commend Bugema University for its emphasis on spiritual and moral development alongside academic excellence.
The president recognized the institution’s commitment to balancing intellectual growth with the nurturing of students’ values.
“Bugema University has done a commendable job in promoting both academic excellence and spiritual growth. I thank the management and staff for their contribution to the development of Uganda’s human resource,” he stated.
The university, he noted, has played a significant role in transforming human resources, which he identified as one of the key bottlenecks to Uganda’s development in 1986.
Museveni reminded the audience that human resources are more valuable than natural resources and that prosperity depends on the quality of the population, not just the country’s natural wealth.
“Some of the most prosperous countries, like China, Japan, and South Korea, have limited natural resources but a highly skilled and educated population. In contrast, nations rich in natural resources, like Saudi Arabia, have not achieved the same level of prosperity,” he explained.
This point underscored the NRM’s broader strategy of investing in human capital development as a foundation for sustainable economic growth.
In closing, President Museveni reiterated that Uganda’s future prosperity depends on the country’s ability to leverage its educated and skilled population to drive industrialization.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive, thereby generating jobs for the growing population.
“I want to reiterate that the richest asset of any nation is its people,” Museveni said.
“If we continue to invest in the education and skills of our population, Uganda will transform into a prosperous nation.”
He congratulated the graduates of Bugema University on their achievements and urged them to use their knowledge for the betterment of their families and the nation.
