KAMPALA, UGANDA – A new study on young Ugandans reveals their views on national priorities, with unemployment at the forefront of their concerns, a finding that mirrors the sentiment of the general population.
The report, titled “Young Ugandans’ voices” by research organization Twaweza, draws on data from its Sauti za Wananchi mobile phone survey to provide a detailed look at the experiences and opinions of citizens aged 18-29.
The study found that 39% of young people and 39% of non-youth identify unemployment as a serious problem. Health services are a close second, with 38% of youth and 39% of non-youth ranking them among the country’s most pressing issues. The cost of living is also a significant concern, with young people being notably more likely than older citizens to consider it a major problem.
Views Vary by Region
The report highlights considerable differences in the views of young people across Uganda’s regions. For instance, youth in Greater Kampala (49%), the Central Region (46%), and the Eastern Region (46%) are more likely to name unemployment as a serious problem. In contrast, young people in the Western (40%) and Eastern (54%) regions place a higher emphasis on health services. Concerns about hunger and drought are particularly high for youth in the Eastern (33%) and Northern (38%) regions, while these issues rank low for young people in Kampala (6%).
Similarly, young people in Kampala do not rank the quality of education or land and property issues as top national problems.
Employment Status and Job Satisfaction
The data shows that young citizens are more likely than older ones to be out of a job. Four out of 10 young people aged 18-24 (41%) reported not being in employment. The main reasons they gave for unemployment were a lack of education and a shortage of job opportunities. Young people are also more likely to be employed in casual work and less likely to work in agriculture compared to older citizens. The study also found that young people are less likely to own their own business than other age groups.
Among those who are employed, young people report lower levels of job satisfaction than their older counterparts.
Only 36% of youth said they were satisfied with their current job, compared to a higher rate among older citizens (49-53%).
Government Performance and Civic Engagement
There is little difference between the views of young people and other citizens on how well the government is performing on key issues like creating jobs, keeping prices low, and fighting corruption. Across all three areas, a majority of citizens, both young and old, said the government is performing badly.
However, young people in Northern Uganda hold a more positive view of the government’s performance on these issues than young people in other regions.
The report also found that young citizens are less likely to participate in community life. Six out of 10 young people (63%) reported attending a community meeting in the previous 12 months, a lower rate than older age groups. They are also less likely to have actively participated in those meetings.
Digital Media on the Rise
While radio remains the most common source of information for all Ugandans, young people are more likely to use television, the internet, and social media. One in four young citizens (27%) uses social media, a figure well ahead of older citizens. The most popular platforms among youth are: WhatsApp and Facebook, followed by TikTok.
Despite this trend, the report notes that a majority of young people (73%) are still not social media users
