President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged youth leaders to champion a mindset shift away from dependence on limited government jobs toward active participation in wealth creation, warning that public service employment cannot absorb Uganda’s fast-growing youth population.
Addressing youth leaders from Western Uganda at his Kisozi farm in Gomba District on December 18, 2025, President Museveni said Uganda’s future prosperity depends on young people engaging in productive sectors—commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
“The issue of empowerment at the individual level is very important,” President Museveni said. “But when it comes to jobs, we must look for methods that cover many people. The answer is wealth creation.”
The meeting brought together youth leaders from Kigezi, Ankole, Rwenzori and Bunyoro sub-regions to discuss youth empowerment, access to Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, leadership inclusion and skilling opportunities.
President Museveni cautioned against promoting unrealistic expectations of public sector employment, noting that Uganda’s public service employs about 480,000 people with limited annual turnover.
“Even if all those retired at once, it would not solve the youth unemployment problem,” he said. “The solution is what I have been telling you—the four sectors.”
He underscored his point by sharing a personal example, saying most of his children are engaged in private wealth creation rather than government jobs, except Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves in the army.
“I cannot give all of you jobs,” he told the youth leaders. “You must understand wealth creation for each individual and each family.”
The President said commercial agriculture offers wide opportunities, citing Ugandans who started small and built successful enterprises. Manufacturing and artisanship, he added, provide value addition through activities such as maize milling, animal feed production and coffee processing.
“Value addition is where the money is,” he said, noting that markets ultimately sustain businesses.
President Museveni also highlighted ICT as a gateway to global employment, pointing to Business Process Outsourcing, online auditing and digital consultancy as viable options for skilled youth.
“These are the sectors where jobs are, where wealth is,” he said.
On financing, the President described the Parish Development Model as the most effective framework for grassroots wealth creation. Each parish receives Shs100 million annually, with 30 percent reserved for youth.
“What I don’t like is people moving from the parish to the district looking for forms,” he said, warning that corruption in accessing PDM funds would be dealt with firmly.
Youth leaders pledged support for President Museveni ahead of the 2026 elections, praising his leadership for maintaining peace, stability and youth-focused development programmes.
