By Karim Were
Yoweri Museveni used this year’s Labour Day celebrations to challenge the conventional idea of employment, arguing that Uganda’s job crisis is less about scarcity and more about mindset and approach.
Speaking in Buikwe District, the President pushed a message that self-driven wealth creation—particularly in agriculture—should replace the widespread dependence on formal jobs. He suggested that many Ugandans overlook viable opportunities already within reach, especially in small-scale farming and agribusiness.
Rather than presenting employment as something to be sought, Museveni framed it as something that emerges naturally when individuals build productive enterprises. He pointed to examples of farmers generating substantial income and creating jobs on limited land, emphasizing that disciplined use of resources can yield significant returns.
He also criticized the tendency of aspiring entrepreneurs to rely on expensive commercial loans, warning that high interest rates often cripple new ventures. Instead, he encouraged the use of government-backed financing options designed to support long-term growth.
Beyond agriculture, the President linked Uganda’s broader economic progress to infrastructure investments, energy expansion, and industrialization, noting that these have already enabled the growth of thousands of factories. However, he stressed that such progress will only translate into widespread prosperity if more citizens actively participate in income-generating activities.
Museveni also highlighted government initiatives like the Parish Development Model as key tools for grassroots economic transformation, while urging accountability from beneficiaries to ensure sustainability.
On the social front, he acknowledged ongoing concerns about worker welfare, including housing and education mismatches, promising government intervention to address these gaps.
Overall, his message marked a clear shift: instead of waiting for jobs, Ugandans should focus on building wealth—because, in his view, employment is a byproduct of productivity, nota starting point.
