Esther Davinia Anyakun (M), the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Youth unemployment, which has tormented Uganda for many years, is now the central focus of renewed government efforts, with the upcoming 4th Annual National Labour Convention & Expo, 2026 positioned as a key intervention to unlock jobs for young people.
The Convention will be held at the Kampala Serena Hotel from April 15 to 16 under the theme: “Unlocking the Potential of Uganda’s Youth Labour Force: Advancing Productivity and Expanding Opportunities for Decent Work.” It will be presided over by the Vice President as Chief Guest and forms part of the build-up to International Labour Day on May 1, 2026.
Speaking on behalf of Amongi Betty Ongom, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Esther Davinia Anyakun, the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, said the Convention represents a critical platform for tackling one of Uganda’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.
“It is my honour to address you today regarding the 4th Annual National Labour Convention & Expo, 2026,” Anyakun said, noting that the forum will provide “a national platform for dialogue on Uganda’s labour market priorities” and practical solutions to youth unemployment.
Since its launch in 2023, the Annual National Labour Convention & Expo has evolved into a key platform convened by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, bringing together government, employers, workers’ organisations, academia, development partners and civil society to generate actionable commitments on employment creation and labour productivity.
Uganda’s demographic realities make such interventions urgent. With a population estimated at 45.9 million, more than 75 percent are below the age of 30, while the working-age population accounts for 57.4 percent. However, over 80 percent of the labour force remains in the informal sector, where jobs are often insecure and poorly remunerated.
Youth unemployment currently stands at 13.3 percent, with many more young people underemployed or engaged in vulnerable work.
“Unlocking the productive potential of this youthful majority is both an economic imperative and a pathway to Uganda’s long-term prosperity,” Anyakun emphasised.
The 2026 Convention will therefore focus on four strategic priorities aimed at addressing these challenges. These include analysing how Uganda’s youth labour force can be harnessed as a driver of productivity and economic transformation, and identifying policy and institutional barriers that limit young people’s access to decent jobs.
The forum will also promote scalable interventions such as skills development, apprenticeships, digital training and stronger education-to-employment pathways—areas widely seen as critical in equipping young Ugandans for a rapidly evolving labour market.
Equally important will be strengthening partnerships among stakeholders to ensure that discussions translate into concrete commitments that expand employment opportunities and extend social protection to young workers.
Anyakun called upon businesses and institutions to actively participate in the Expo component of the Convention, which will showcase innovations and programmes designed to support job creation.
“I therefore call upon businesses, innovation-driven enterprises, training institutions, financial service providers, and development organisations to take advantage of the Expo platform to showcase innovations, services, and programmes that support job creation, skills development, and labour productivity,” she said.
The Expo is expected to play a crucial role in bridging the gap between policy and practice by connecting young people to opportunities, technologies and networks that can enable them to transition into decent work.
The Convention will bring together high-level participants including Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, senior government officials, private sector leaders and heads of workers’ organisations. Their engagement is expected to align national policy with practical, on-the-ground solutions while generating measurable commitments to tackle youth unemployment.
The initiative is also aligned with Uganda’s broader development frameworks, including Uganda Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), both of which prioritise job creation and inclusive growth.
Although attendance at the Convention will be by invitation only, the public will be able to follow proceedings through live broadcasts on national television and other media platforms.
As Uganda counts down to International Labour Day, the 4th Annual National Labour Convention & Expo is expected to set the national agenda on employment, offering renewed hope that coordinated action can transform the country’s youthful population into a powerful engine for economic growth and shared prosperity.
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