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By Spy Uganda
The Justice Forum (JEEMA) has blamed government policy failures for Uganda’s rising unemployment, warning that the country’s growing job crisis is a result of deliberate choices rather than circumstance.
In a Labour Day statement released on May 1, the party said unemployment and underemployment among youth aged 18 to 30 now stands at 64 percent, painting a grim picture of a labour market struggling to absorb graduates and skilled workers.
JEEMA argued that many young Ugandans are being pushed into informal work such as boda boda riding and street vending, while others are leaving the country for domestic labour in the Middle East under difficult conditions.
“This is not bad luck. It is bad governance,” the statement reads.
The party criticised recent national budgets, saying allocations to industrialisation and skills development remain below three percent, while large sums are directed toward classified expenditure. It also pointed to the collapse of initiatives such as the Youth Livelihood Programme as evidence of weak policy implementation.
According to JEEMA, the mismatch between education and employment continues to widen, with an estimated 400,000 graduates entering the job market annually for only about 90,000 formal job opportunities. The party said curriculum reforms by the National Curriculum Development Centre have failed to deliver meaningful change due to budgetary constraints and lack of prioritisation.
The statement further accused government of undermining the informal sector, which employs the majority of Ugandans, through high taxes and fuel levies that increase the cost of doing business.
JEEMA also dismissed existing interventions such as presidential skilling hubs and labour externalisation programmes, describing them as unsustainable and ineffective in addressing the root causes of unemployment.
Citing Article 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to work, the party said the state has abdicated its responsibility to create an enabling environment for employment.
“Sovereignty is meaningless if citizens cannot feed their children,” the statement noted.
To address the crisis, JEEMA proposed a series of policy measures, including allocating at least 10 percent of the national budget to industrial parks, agro-processing, and technical and vocational education, alongside guaranteed job creation.
The party also called for tax reforms, including the removal of OTT, reduction of fuel levies, and introduction of tax holidays for small and medium enterprises that employ young people.
In addition, JEEMA urged a restructuring of the education system to prioritise practical skills, internships, and start-up capital, and called for a temporary ban on labour externalisation until stronger protections and a minimum wage framework are established.
The statement was signed by Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko, who said the party stands in solidarity with unemployed Ugandans and remains committed to advocating for policies that promote self-sufficiency and inclusive economic growth.
The remarks add to growing national debate over unemployment and economic policy, as Uganda marked Labour Day with renewed calls for job creation and labour reforms.
JEEMA LABOUR DAY PRESS RELEASE
, https://www.spyuganda.com/unemployment-crisis-is-policy-failure-not-bad-luck-jeema-lectures-govt/
