On 21 March 2022, a new initiative was launched by the European Union Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Attilio Pacifici and Chief Executive Officer, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) Mr. Stephen Asiimwe. The programme, funded by the European Union is jointly implemented by Enabel and PSFU, and targets 1000 recent graduates countrywide. It comes as a response to the skills and attitude problems noted among graduates, which according to the private sector is a serious obstacle to business growth and productivity.

Citing a recent damning study which concluded that graduates are “unemployable”, Mr. Asiimwe decried the skills of most graduates as below employability levels. “They (graduates) lack important skills and attributes such as effective communication, self-drive, time management, leadership, creativity, adaptability, collaboration, emotional intelligence and customer service. This lack of appropriately skilled labour deters private sector investment and business growth in the country,” he said.

In effect, the initiative will address the challenge through placement of graduates in various private sector companies for at least six months training, mentorship and coaching. The Country Representative of the Belgian Development Agency Enabel, Tom Vanneste is confident that graduates under this scheme will be helped to enhance their personal attributes and abilities to make them work ready.

The work readiness programme is part of EUR 5 Million (approximately UGX 18.8b Billion) project funded by the European Union intended to make Uganda’s business environment more conducive through increasing the supply of appropriately skilled workers, establishing private sector-led initiatives to reduce corruption and strengthening public-private sector dialogue on issues affecting business growth and sustainability.