We begin by describing the context and the problem of youth unemployment in northern Uganda, with further reference to selected studies of this problem elsewhere in the world. After explaining our methods, we present our findings from youth engaged in agribusiness, trading, manufacturing, and service enterprises. The hindrances to success are several; we will concentrate mainly on the problems of personal resources as described by the youth themselves and other stakeholders.
The Context: Conflict and Youth Unemployment in Northern Uganda
Worldwide, youth unemployment is a serious challenge especially for youth born and/or raised during conflict. Prolonged wars and violence embedded in political, economic and social structures affect livelihoods in most developing countries (Vindevogel et al. 2014:2). The civil conflict between the National Resistance Movement’ (NRM) government and leaders of the ousted past regimes began in the 1980s (Omona 2008:131). For almost two decades, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war ruined northern Uganda’s social, political, and economic organization. Gulu district was the epicentre of conflict with over 48 camps for Internally Displaced People (Omona 2008:132). The conflict claimed lives of people, and paralysed cultural, economic and social fabrics of life; its effects manifest on young people’s lives even up to the present (Oosterom et al. 2021:571). The breakdown in family structure affected dynamics of resource acquisition, utilisation, and allocation, in addition to increasing the social obligations and responsibilities of youth (Oosterom et al. 2021:574). Children experienced lack of quality education, little participation in economic activities both during and after conflict and poor quality of life, (Betancourt et al. 2012:545). Furthermore, war broke marriages; both children and their mothers were denied land access, ownership, employment, and utilisation (Whyte and Acio 2017; Vindevogel et al. 2014). Now, it is social healing and economic progress which determine the contribution of young people (Dixon 2021: 32). A study conducted in 24 countries showed youth unemployment as a major factor for political instability (Azeng and Yogo 2013:2). The situation, therefore, calls for approaches focusing on proper functioning of youth and eradicating extreme poverty whilst fostering socio-economic transformation. Funding, land, structure, and youth themselves as resources provide an opportunity for socio-economic transformation.
In Africa, the youth bulge is one of the highest in the world with 70% below 25 years (Ackah-Baidoo 2015:255). Youth dominate Uganda’s population; 56.7% is below the age of 18 years, with 70% below 30 years resulting in high rates of unemployment and poverty; this seems to call for youth entrepreneurship (Bukenya et al. 2019:1). Government and other actors participating in youth empowerment drives recognise youth entrepreneurship as an approach to job creation (Gough and Langevang 2016:1). Government provides resources such as funding and training for entrepreneurship; however, youth continue to be perceived as problems, not as resources.