Museveni blames unemployment on sleepy leaders

“Countries without jobs are those which are poor. Uganda is not poor. The problem is a lack of vision and people not listening."

Museveni was speaking as chief guest at the commemoration of this year’s International Labour Day. The national celebrations were held at St Leo’s College in the western Fort Portal City.

In his remarks, Museveni said If Ugandans had listened to his advice on commercial farming, there would be no unemployment in the country.

He gave the example of one local farmer named Richard Nyakana from Rwengaju in Fort Portal, who listened to his advice and started intensive farming on a small piece of land where he is making millions of shillings annually.

Nyakana rears a few dairy cows and poultry, and he is earning Shs 180 million a year on a 1.2-acre piece of land.

The farm, which also produces animal fees and manure for sale, employs 15 people.

Leadership gap

Museveni said if most Ugandans were like Nyankana, there would be no joblessness in such a fertile country.

"Uganda has 40 million acres of arable land. What if 20 million acres were used as I have recommended, with each acre creating 15 million jobs? We would need 300 million jobs, more than the population of Uganda,” he said.

“All those children we have going to work for the Arabs, they should not be going. What are they going to do there? They should be here,” Museveni added.

President Yoweri Museveni pulse uganda

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During the celebrations, different speakers highlighted a range of challenges that Ugandans continue to face in the workplace.

A decent work environment needed

H.E Hugues Chantry, the Belgian Ambassador to Uganda reiterated the need for Uganda to enact laws and policies that ensure a decent work environment for its people.

“In Uganda, most jobs are informal. This means that even if people are employed it does guarantee that they have a way out of poverty. We have to create more jobs but these jobs need to be quality jobs,” he said.

This point was repeated by Hon Peace Mutuuzo, the State Minister for Gender and Labour, who informed the President of the rising cases of unfair practices by most employers in the country.

Hon Peace Mutuuzo giving her speech pulse uganda

“Cases of unfair dismissals, unfair wages and unsafe working conditions are prevalent,” she said.

“Workers, mostly women and youth are exposed to various forms of abuses; a recent study found that only 25% of factory workers have access to protective gear,” he said.

On her part, Hon Davinia Anyakun, the state minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, called for an inclusive labour environment for all Ugandans

“As we commemorate this important day, let us continue to advance labour justice. By enhancing labour justice, we shall stimulate productive employment and boost household incomes,” said the minister.

Museveni inspects the workers' exhibition at the function pulse uganda

“Let us use this occasion to affirm our dedication to creating a fair and inclusive labour environment that benefits all stakeholders.”

Commenting on these concerns, President Museveni directed Minister Anyakun to investigate cases of employers abusing their workers, particularly those hired on a temporary basis.

The President also directed the Ministry of Local Government to ensure that the new markets built by the government in different cities and municipalities are occupied by the poor people and not the wealthy, who have reportedly hijacked them.