How I plan to tackle youth unemployment

Uganda’s youth unemployment crisis is a ticking time bomb, with over 80% of unemployed persons being young people. The harsh reality is that many Ugandan youths are forced to engage in menial jobs, such as street hawking, to eke out a living. This is the story of Malinga Gerald the aspiring Presidential candidate of Uganda 2026-2031, popularly known as Spongeman, who once hawked bathing sponges in the streets. His experiences have given him a deep understanding of the struggles faced by Uganda’s youth.As an Aspiring presidential candidate, Spongeman is touched by the suffering of the youth and is driven to take action. He believes that every Ugandan youth deserves a chance to realize their potential and contribute to the country’s development. With a comprehensive approach, Spongeman aims to create employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and empower the youth to become a driving force for national development.Spongeman’s vision is built on the conviction that Uganda’s youth can be a powerful engine for growth and development. As President, he would introduce innovative solutions to address youth unemployment, including skills development, entrepreneurship support, and job creation initiatives. Here is a comprehensive approach to solving the youth unemployment crisis when elected President of Uganda:*Skilling the Youth*- Partner with Ivy League universities in the US to offer STEM programs, training Ugandan scientists to develop innovative solutions for the country’s development challenges.- These scientists will return to Uganda to partner with the government in building roads, housing, and starting innovations that create jobs.- During the pre and post colonial times,the Asian tigers concentrated on taking their citizens to the western world to advance in science, technology, engineering and maths. They went back to build their countries road and housing infrastructure and led to rise of innovations like Samsung and many more. Africans concentrated on taking their citizens to study humanities and they came back as orators without definate plans to scale up modern developments. I want to change the narrative when elected president by giving scholarships to 5 best science students per year in the STEM subject specialities at universities of the western world like USA and Europe. Mobile money is an example of a STEM innovation I envision Ugandans from such universities to develop that Could create opportunities to multitudes. *Government-Funded Business Proposals*- Fund 10 business proposals per district, each capable of employing 10 people, resulting in 15,000 jobs per year across 150 districts.- This initiative will stimulate entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities, and promote economic growth.*Private Sector Support*- Inject funds into the private sector,a proven employer of many Ugandans, to stimulate job creation and economic growth.- Encourage nationalizing Uganda’s industrial sector besides foreign industries to effect a descent minimum wage scale. Foreign investors will have a guide to minimum wage when government has its own minimum wage scale in it’s industrial employment sector.When all industries are privatized,the youth can be exploited because government has no industries to refer to.*Infrastructural Development*- Ramp up infrastructural development projects, such as building roads, housing, and other government ventures, to create employment opportunities.*Innovation and Reward*- Reward great innovators to encourage a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship in the country.*Agricultural Development*- Implement the 10% plan to increase the agricultural budget, creating thousands of jobs in extension work, value addition, marketing, and farm work.- Invest in reclaiming government ranches that were grabbed by land grabbers to grow crops for food .On the other hand,these farms will be turned into government entrepreneurship hubs as the youth contribute to national service to build roads,25 million cheap housing I plan to build for Ugandans affordable cheap housing. After their national service and entrepreneur ship training, government gives/pays back the efforts of the youth working capital to start a business that will be well monitored to avoid failure.*Nationalism in the Mineral Sector*- Promote nationalism in the mineral sector by employing Ugandans in key positions, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.*International Agreements*- Negotiate better formal agreements with foreign countries to employ Ugandans as professionals, not just low-skilled workers.- Reduce taxes on labor exporters to make it easier for Ugandans to access decent work opportunities abroad.*Cottage Industry*- Introduce a government cottage industry program, where each parish produces a specific item, creating employment opportunities and promoting economic growth.This comprehensive plan addresses youth unemployment through a multi-faceted approach, including skilling, entrepreneurship, private sector support, infrastructural development, innovation, agricultural development, nationalism in the mineral sector, international agreements, and cottage industry development.