KAMPALA, UGANDA – A university-led climate initiative in Uganda has launched a new skills training programme aimed at giving young people who never made it to university a pathway into business and self-employment.
The Africa Climate Collaborative, based at Makerere University and backed by the Mastercard Foundation, says the programme will begin with a pilot group of 50 young people drawn from the districts of Lwengo, Rakai and Yumbe – three areas officials describe as among the most exposed to the effects of climate change in the country. Over the next eight years, organisers plan to expand the scheme to reach 500 young people in total.
The initiative reflects a broader challenge facing Uganda and many countries across sub-Saharan Africa, where a large share of the population is under 30, university places remain limited, and job opportunities for school leavers are scarce.
“We realised that there are several young people who never got an opportunity to attend university or pursue higher education, yet they constitute the majority of our population,” said Prof Gorettie Nabanoga, the programme’s director. “We are intentionally creating pathways that enable them to acquire practical skills, participate meaningfully in the economy and secure dignified employment.”
For its first cohort, the programme has chosen poultry farming as its focus, training participants in feed production, hatchery management, poultry production, processing and waste management. Organisers say the sector was selected for the range of business opportunities it offers to young entrepreneurs with limited capital.
“The poultry sector offers numerous opportunities for innovation,” Nabanoga said. “By developing expertise across different components of the value chain, these young people will collectively strengthen the entire poultry ecosystem.”
Beyond business training, the programme is designed to embed climate-conscious practices into how young entrepreneurs operate – from reducing waste to using resources more efficiently. Graduates, organisers say, are expected to pass their knowledge on to others. “These young people will become trainers of trainers,” Nabanoga said. “When they return to their communities, they will establish enterprises and mentor others, creating a critical mass of youth engaged in climate-smart businesses.”
The programme has drawn support from technical experts and local leaders alike. Nehwera Eufemia, an animal feed specialist, said the decision to prioritise feed production training was significant, given that feed accounts for roughly 70 percent of poultry production costs. “Strengthening skills in feed production provides a strong foundation for improving productivity and sustainability across the entire poultry value chain,” she said.
In Rakai district, senior agricultural officer Francis Bwowe said the scheme came at a critical moment, with the closure of teacher training colleges and rising education costs leaving many young people with few options. “Many young people who complete Senior Four have nowhere to go,” he said. “A programme that equips them with practical skills to start their own businesses is extremely important. We believe it will help them become self-reliant and earn a living.”
George Kizito, a local council leader in Rakai’s Kalere Parish, said the lack of confidence and know-how – not lack of opportunity – was often what held young people back. “The opportunities exist, but many young people lack the capacity and confidence to create jobs for themselves,” he said. “In our community, people involved in poultry farming are earning good money, but many youths simply watch because they do not know where to start from.”
To qualify, applicants must be aged between 18 and 35, have completed at least Senior Four or its equivalent, and must not currently be enrolled in university or in formal employment. Organisers say they are particularly encouraging applications from young women, young mothers, refugees and people with disabilities.
Eligible applicants must reside in Lwengo Sub-County in Lwengo district, Ddwaniro Sub-County in Rakai district, Zone 5 of the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, or Ariwa Sub-County in Yumbe district.
Application forms are available free of charge through an online portal, or in person at district offices in Lwengo and Rakai, and at designated settlement offices in Yumbe. The deadline for applications is 5pm on July 9.
