CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

This chapter presents the background of the study, problem statement, purpose of

the study ,objectives of the study, research questions and scope of study and

significance of the study.

1.1. Background of the study.

The Ugandan constitution defines the youth as persons ranging from the ages of 19 years

to 35years.The United Nations describes the youth as persons in the age of 14 years to 24

years while the commonwealth defines the youth as persons ranging from the ages 15

years to 29 years.

Unemployment occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively looked for

work within the past four weeks. (International Labor Organization) The unemployment

rate is a measure of the prevalence of unemployment and it is calculated as a percentage

by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by all individuals currently in the

labor force. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment)

The United Nations (2007) confirmed the finding of high youth unemployment rates and

1
high youth-to-adult rates in the UK. They estimated this ratio in the UK at 3.6 in 2005,

which, in Europe was only exceeded by Malta (3.7), Italy (3.9), Sweden (3.8) and Iceland

(4.5) and joint sixteenth with Costa Rica and Haiti out of 117 countries. Outside Europe,

New Zealand was the only OECD country with a higher ratio (3.8). (Blanchflower 2009)

Europe has also been hard hit by the recession, with some countries faring better than

others in terms of unemployment. In Austria, there is 4.5 percent unemployment. In

Belgium, there is 7.4 percent unemployment. The unemployment rate of Cyprus is 3.8

percent. The Czech Republic has an unemployment rate of 7.9 percent. Denmark has a

2.9 percent unemployment rate. Finland has an 8.8 percent unemployment rate. (See:

http://www.visualeconomics.com/unemployment-rates-around-the-world/)

The symposium on unemployed youth (1962) by inters Africa labor institute noted that

the problem of unemployment is essentially one which man faces in industrial society.

The root cause of this appears to be that along with intensified and diverse economic

activities.

For some several a continuous exodus has brought large numbers of youth into town

which for young persons in the village stands for an easy life and high salaries.

Thousands of workless young men in towns represent a moral, social, economic and

political danger.

In Uganda, unemployment was not a big problem in the past but because of the increase

in the population of young people, cases of unemployment have increased. Uganda has

the world’s second youngest population.

2
During the World Bank’s launching of the World Development Report (2007), which

focuses on Development and the Next Generation, it was noted that the share of youth in

Sub-Saharan Africa is currently the highest in the world with over 200 million young

people between the ages of 12 and 24. According to the report the number of young

people in the region will peak in about 20 years.

Challenges facing the youth in Uganda were a major topic for discussion during the

World Bank’s launching of the World Development Report 2007, which focuses on

Development and the Next Generation.

1.2 Statement of the problem.

Youth unemployment in Uganda has been increasing for the past years; the press has on

several occasions reported cases of youth unemployment. In a special report in the

Saturday Monitor, (August 21,2010) it was noted that almost 400.0000 students graduate

from tertiary institutions every year only to compete for 18,000 government jobs created

in the same period. However during the launching of the World Development Report

(2007) the deputy prime minister of Uganda, Hon. Henry Kajura also highlighted the

seriousness of youth unemployment in Uganda. He said the labor force was growing at a

rate of 3.4 per cent per annum “resulting in 390,000 new job seekers and yet about 8,120

jobs are available each year.”

Mr. Kajura said Uganda’s national unemployment rate stood at 3.2 percent while that of

the youth stood at a whopping 22.3 percent. This could even be higher considering that

he was quoting statistics of 2003.The cases of unemployment among the youth are

increasing day by day hence a research to find out the causes of un-employment among

the youth.

3
1.3 Purpose of the study.

The purpose of the study is to establish the causes of unemployment among the youth in

Rubaga division. This will help in drawing solutions to end this youth unemployment

scourge.

1.4 Research objectives.

The objective of the study will be as follows:

1. To establish the causes of unemployment among the youth in Rubaga division.

2. To assess the effect of youth unemployment to their communities.

3. To identify solutions that can be used to reduce unemployment among the youth in

Rubaga Division.

1.5 Research hypothesis/questions.

1. What are the causes of youth unemployment?

2. What are the effects of youth unemployment?

3. What can be done to solve the youth unemployment?

1.6 Scope of study.

1.6.1 Subject scope

The subject scope is focused on establishing and investigating the causes of youth

unemployment.

1.6.2 Geographical scope

The study was carried out Rubaga division in Kampala district. The researcher will

ensure that all zones and parishes are being represented.

4
1.6.3 Time scope

The study will focus on causes of youth unemployment with more emphasis form 2000-

2010.The study will be taking duration of five months and it will end in May 2011.

1.7 Significance of the study.

The study finding will be of great importance to different stakeholders as follows.

The study will help the researcher in gain skills of conducting further research. The

acquired skills will not only be limited to academic researcher but will also be of

permanent importance to other researchers while carrying out research in different fields.

The study will be helpful for the central government and the youth ministries and other

private stake holders in case there is need to address the problem of youth

unemployment.

The study findings will help to add on the body of existing literature about the study

variables and this will be of help to future students and researchers. The study will be a

source of secondary data for other researchers and writers as well as organizations.

5
 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction

This chapter is to review some of the major issues on existing literature of causes, effect

and solutions of youth unemployment.

2.1. DEFINITION OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

The international labor organization defines the unemployed as people who have not

worked for more than one hour during the short reference period (generally, the previous

week or day) but are available for and actively seeking work (ILO).

O’Higgins (2000) defined the unemployed as people who are discouraged, i.e. people

who wish to work but are not actively seeking a job since they see no possibility of

obtaining gainful employment.

Caroline Hutton (1973) defined the unemployed as a person who is willing and able to

work, actively seeking work and has abandoned all alternative forms of full time

occupation in order to look for work even though he may not have left his home.

2.2. YOUTH AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

According to the standard United Nations definition, youth comprises of young people

aged from 15 to 24 years. (United Nations 1992) Definitions of youth also vary. In

Africa, some countries have adopted the United Nations (UN) definition of youth (15 to

24 years) while others use the Commonwealth definition (15 to 29 years).

6
For policy purposes, the age range can be even wider. In some African countries, such

as Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, the definition of youth used for policy purposes ranges

from 15 years to 35 years. In Nigeria, it ranges from 12 to 30 years. South Africa’s

National Youth Policy defines youth as any person between the ages of 14 and 35 years

(R .Curtain, 2001)

In practice, the operational definition of youth or young people varies widely from

country to country, depending on cultural, institutional and political factors. (Nial

O’Higgins 2000).

The National Youth Commission Act (1996) broadly defines and refers to young people

as all those between the ages of 14 and 35. Whilst some departments ascribe to this

definition, most have identified more specific, targeted age categories to enhance the

feasibility of their interventions. (Youth Development Trust report 2003).

In Uganda, youth are defined as all young persons between the ages of 18 to 30 years.

(National youth statute 1993, The 1995 constitution of Republic of Uganda)

In most OECD countries, the full-time unemployment rate for teenagers 15 to 19 years

concerns only those who have left the education system early, hence the least skilled.

Teenage full-time unemployment rates in OECD countries average over 20 per cent and

in some cases as much as 30 or 40 per cent. However, this measure only says what is

happening to early school-leavers, rather than the age group as a whole.

If all 15 to 19 year-olds are considered in the unemployment to population ratio, teenage

unemployment, on an OECD country average in 1998 amounted to only 3.5 per cent.

(Curtain, 20 august 2000)

7
In 2001, the UN secretary general Koffi Annan noted that there were approximately 66

million unemployed youth in the world, an increase of nearly 10 million since 1965

(commonwealth secretariat, May 2004)

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2005 report noted that nearly half of

world’s population (3 billions) are under the age of 25; over 500 million youth (aged 15

to 24) live on less than $2 a day; those that work are mainly trapped in low wage, low

skill, sectors with little chance of anything better or any way out of poverty, and are often

abused and badly exploited. Young people are half the world’s unemployed.

A Commonwealth youth programme report (1996:10) noted that that young people are

too frequently subject to a disproportionate burden of unemployment, with young

women and school leavers especially vulnerable.

Across the common wealth, youth account for approximate one third of the total labor

force, with unemployment rates around 30-50 percent or more the total unemployed.

Youth unemployment has reached high levels across the wide range of countries and

almost everywhere, rates are significantly higher than adult rates (O’Higgins 2000).

2.3. CAUSES OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

O’Higgins (2000) points out the size of youth labor force as a major contributory factor

of youth unemployment. Much concern has been expressed about growing negative

consequences of rapidly growing youth population in the developing countries.

8
Korenman and Neumark (1997) estimated that the elasticity of youth unemployment with

respect to relative cohort size is of the order, that is to say an increase in the relative size

of the youth population by 10 percent would raise the youth unemployment by around 5

per cent.

O’Higgins (2000) argues that aggregate demand affect youth unemployment in the same

way that it affects the overall level of unemployment. A fall in the aggregate demand will

lead to a fall in demand for labour in general and consequently for young labor as well as

for adult workers.

This is a fairly uncontroversial and self evident statement. Perhaps of more relevance is

the fact that the youth unemployment rates are typically substantially higher and more

cyclically variable than adult rates.

2.4. CONSEQUENCES OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT.

The consequences of youth unemployment such as social exclusion, which can lead to

drug abuse, crime and social unrest are extremely serious and damaging for society as a

whole(O’Higgins 2000).

The time a young person spends unemployed, particularly if periods are prolonged, can

have permanently damaging consequences on the rest of that person’s “working” life.

Even though long term unemployment does not necessarily lead young people to behave

unsociably, behavioral patterns established early on in life, together with lack of training

and employment experience, are likely to affect the employment and earnings potential of

young people for the rest of their lives. (O’Higgins 2000)

9
As unemployment rates increase, crime rates tend to rise, especially property crime.32

Indeed, there is some recent evidence that property crime has now started to increase in

the UK. According to the British Crime Survey for the period July to September 2008,

police recorded domestic burglaries rose by four per cent. (Blanchflower 2009).

Unemployment increases susceptibility to malnutrition, illness, mental stress, and loss of

self-esteem, leading to depression.Goldsmith, Veum and Darity (1996, 1997) found, for

example, using data from the US national Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY) that

being jobless injures self-esteem, and fosters feelings of externality and helplessness

among youths. Moreover, they also found evidence that the psychological imprint of

joblessness persists. The unemployed also appear to have a higher propensity to commit

suicide. Further, unemployment can reduce the life expectancy of workers. An additional

negative medical indication is that unemployment increases the probability of poor

physical health outcomes such as heart attacks in later life. (Blanchflower 2009)

Once a man has come to town and has failed to find work, there are a limited number of

ways in which he can survive. If he can not find someone to provide him with food and

shelter he must have income from home in form of proceeds from sale of crops and

livestock or from gifts, or he must find casual work in town. As a last resort he may turn

to begging or stealing. (Hutton 1973)

2.5. SOLUTIONS TO YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT.

The special youth schemes recommendation 1970 provided guidelines on youth

employment and training schemes organized for development purpose and specific

10
conditions that should prevail in such schemes. It stressed that participation in scheme

should be voluntary and should not violate the terms of the International Labor standards

on forced labor. (ILO 1986)

The world employment report 1998-99(ILO 1998) focused on the issues of training and

employability. The report emphasized among others the role of education and training in

promoting competitiveness the implication of changes in demand for different skill; the

role that training can play in overcoming the disadvantages faced by women in labor

market; the need, particularly in developing countries to recognize the informal sector

and consequently the role it has to play in training for employment; the need for training

policies to place emphasis on vulnerable groups.

The Human Resource Development Convention, (1975) provided that the International

Labor Organization member states should adopt and develop comprehensive and

coordinated policies and programmers of vocational guidance and training closely linked

to employment.

In 2000, a report, Training for Employment, was presented to the international labour

conference (ILO 2000) recognizing the role played by both governments and private

enterprise in promoting and undertaking training. It also stressed the growing role of

different types of labor market information and, in particular suggested the employment

services provide more vocational guidance.

A Micro Credit Management System (McMS) has been developed by the

Commonwealth Youth Program to ensure the orderly administration of micro-credit

11
schemes, resources and enabling environment in order to ensure their success in a given

country. However, the Micro Credit Management System is in its embryonic stage and is

going through a process of development. (Curtain 20 August, 2000)

The Friends of Africa Foundation seeks to mobilize new private and corporate funding to

support young Africans on a sustainable basis and help them develop leadership, work

force and enterprise skills. It aims to do this by linking up with established organizations

and programs and making full use of information and communication technology.

The Foundation maintains a website with a web page on youth and a web-based resource

library. (Curtain 20 august, 20000)

2.6 CONCLUSION.

In conclusion, it can be noted that unemployment has always existed in the past and its

consequences have had negative impacts on the youth and their communities at large.

The literature shows that solutions have been put in place to solve this problem though it

is becoming rampant today. There is need to re-evaluate the society and engage in more

research that will result in realistic strategies to solve unemployment among the youth

today.

12
 CHAPTER THREE

Methodology

Introduction

In this chapter the researcher describes the methodology used in this study. The chapter

presents the research design, population of study and sample selection. It also describes

data collection and analysis, as well as the limitations of the study.

In order to accomplish the objectives of this study, comprehensive desk research shall be

combined with consultations of the youth and close collaboration with a broad range of

stakeholders (organizations) in the area of youth.

3.1 Research Design.

The study will be cross sectional. This entails collection of data on more than one case at a

single point in time and observation of all the population. The study shall adopt both a

qualitative and quantitative approach, analyzing objectively youth unemployment with its

causes, effects and solutions.

3.2 Study Population.

The study population will be 60 people and these will include the youth, local council

officials, youth development workers, young entrepreneurs of Rubaga division and

international labor officials at Kampala offices.

3.3 Sampling Design and Procedure.

The researcher shall use important and purposive sampling .Here the researcher uses skill

and prior knowledge to choose respondents who best represent the population of study.

13
3.4 Sample size.

A sample size of 52 people shall be determined according to krejcie and Morgan (1970).

Krejcie and Morgan (1970) used the following formula to determine sampling size:

S = X2NP (1-P)/ d2 (N-1) + X2P (1-P)

S = required sample size

X2 = the table value of chi-square for one degree of freedom at the desired confidence

level

N = the population size

P = the population proportion (assumed to be .50 since this would provide the maximum

sample size)

d = the degree of accuracy expressed as a proportion (.05)

3.5 Sources of data.

The major sources of data that will be used by the researcher to collect data: these will

include the primary and secondary sources of data.

3.5.1 Primary sources of data.

This will be the data that will be collected by the researcher from the field fro the field

for the first time. It will be developed specifically for the case study. The data will be

collected through various interviews that will be conducted on health workers and local

leaders of the community as well as the responses from the questionnaires that will be

distributed in addition to personal observation of the community leaders so as to confirm

the information generated from interviews and questionnaires. This source of data will be

14
used because it is cheap and easier to collect data from a large population, within the

shortest time that would be available for the study.

3.5.2 Secondary sources of data.

This will be data that was collected by someone else and passed through the statistical

process. It will be developed for some other purpose other than helping to value the

research problem at hand. This data will be collected from documentary references such

as monthly reports, minutes, journals, published books, news papers and internet.

This source of data will be meant for supplementary purposes to the primary data source

in order to get adequate data.

3.6 Data Collection methods.

3.6.1 Observation

The researcher will gain knowledge of the outside world through the senses, or the

recording of data using scientific instruments to get the required information for the topic.

This involves making observations and predicting the consequences of the topic you are

covering.

3.6.2 Survey

The researcher will collect quantitative data of the youth in the population as to help him

get the exact information that he or she may require.

3.7 Data collection instruments

15
3.7.1 Questionnaires

Questionnaires will be the main instrument to be used in this study. They will be

designed according to the research objectives and will be given to the respondents to

answer them. The questionnaires will have open-ended and close-ended questions.

3.7.2 Analysis of documents / Documentary review.

The researcher shall visit the library to make a review of relevant international and

national literature relating to youth unemployment, including relevant texts and journal

articles, and other publications. The overall aim of the literature review was to summarize

and update key information relating to youth unemployment in general.

3.8 Data Processing, presentation and Analysis.

Data will be analyzed in the following ways;

Qualitative data shall be thematically analyzed to address the research questions. There

after it shall be encoded and turned in to percentages and tables used to present findings.

3.8.1 Data processing.

The researcher will check the accuracy of the data collected by editing and coding it. This

will enable the researcher to provide accurate information that other researchers will refer

to in the future.

3.8.2 Data analysis.

The data collected will first of all be analyzed by the researcher ,this will be done by

breaking complex topics in to small parts so that their meaning is simplified.

3.8.3 Data presentation.

Quantitative data will be encoded at first and entered in to a computer and shall be

analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) program .This will help the

16
researcher to use graphs, pie charts and tables to present the findings so that the work

maybe simplified for others to refer to.

3.9 Limitations of the Study.

Some respondents may not be cooperative because they want to be paid or given some

gifts. Therefore the researcher hopes to overcome this by offering some tips and gifts to

the respondents.

Some respondents may not be cooperative because they may suspect the researcher to be

an agent from a security organ in the country. The researcher will work by first

introducing himself to the respondents.

Some respondents may lack time for the interview so the researcher will first set an

appointment with some of the respondents so as to fix a specific time for interviews.

17
 CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation of Findings, Discussions and Interpretation

Introduction

This chapter presents the findings of the study in relation with the research objectives and

questions which were set in chapter one before the study. In this chapter the research

questions are answered by the questionnaire therefore interpreting information will help

in understanding the causes, effects and solutions to youth unemployment in Rubaga

division.

4.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents

The respondents included male and female youth in Rubaga division, Kampala district.

Fig 1 showing the gender of respondents

37%

MALE - 63%
FEMALE - 37%

63%

Source: primary data

From figure one above its indicated that the majority of the respondents are male

respondents represented by 63% and the minorities were female represented by 37%.

This means that more male participated more than females.

These included people of the following age brackets 15-18years 8%, 19-30 years 55%,

31-35years 25% and 36 & above 11% respectively.

18
Fig 2: Showing academic background of the respondents

UNIVERSITY - 30%
SECONDARY - 38.3%
PRIMARY - 23.3%
NONE - 8.3%

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00%

Source: primary data

From figure two (2) above, it is indicated that majority of the respondents went to school

up to secondary level represented by 38.3%, those who attended school up to university

level were represented by 30%, those who attended school up to primary level were

represented by 23.3% and the minority who did not attend school at all were represented

by 8.3%.

Fig 3: Showing the percentage of employment and unemployment of the youth in

Rubaga division

35%

65%

EMPLOYMENT - 35%

UNEMPLOYMENT -
65%

Source: primary data

From figure three above it is indicated that the majority of respondents were unemployed

represented by 65% and the minority were employed represented by 35%.

19
 Among the 39 people who were unemployed, 20 of them were male and 19 were

females, this show that the unemployment rate among both male and female youth in

Rubaga division is relatively the same.

4.2 Causes of youth unemployment in Rubaga division

Table 1: Showing the different causes of youth unemployment

Causes of youth unemployment No. of respondents Percentage

Illiteracy 14 23%
Tribalism and cronyism 7 11.6%
Lack of capital 20 33%
Lack of experience 5 8.3%
Poor government policies 3 5%
High population 11 18.3%

TOTAL 60 100
Source: Primary data

From the table above it is indicated that there are different causes of youth unemployment

where 23% of unemployment is caused by illiteracy, 11.6% by tribalism and cronyism,

33% by lack of capital, and 8.3% by lack of experience, 5% by poor government policies

and 18.3% by high population.

According to the table above, 18.3% of respondents stressed that the continuous increase

in the population of Rubaga division has led to youth unemployment. Unemployment

among the youth is on the rise because of the growing population that has increased the

competition for jobs within the country and Rubaga division as well. The respondents

stressed that there are so many job seekers and yet the jobs available are very few hence

leading to youth unemployment in Rubaga division.

20
 From the table above, 11.6% respondents pointed out that tribalism; nepotism and

cronyism are also major causes of the increasing youth unemployment in Rubaga

division. This is where a person in office uses the power to employ his fellow tribe’s men

and friends. This has made education useless to most of the youth because people employ

their friends even when they do not have the credentials because they employ people they

know.

From the table above 33% respondents pointed out that the youth lack initial capital to

setup their own small enterprises. This is so because the youth have no personal savings

and the banks and other money lenders cannot give out loans to them because they lack

collateral which could help them secure loans. Most of the youth in Rubaga have the

potential to initiate their own small scale enterprises but they lack capital which is very

important in the start up of any business.

According to the table above, 23% respondents said that Illiteracy was one of the major

causes of youth unemployment in Rubaga division, most of the youth identified that their

lack of chances to access academic qualifications is the major cause of their increased

unemployment rate in Rubaga division. Most of the jobs that are available in the country

today are mainly meant for people who have a strong academic background so this leaves

majority of the youth in the division unemployed. However these respondents still

criticized the education system for being too theoretical yet employers today are only

willing to employ the people who are capable of doing some practical work, so this has

also left the few educated youth in the same scourge of unemployment like those who are

uneducated.

21
From the table above 8.3% respondents said that is the “experience clause” that all

employers emphasize when seeking for new employees is another cause of

unemployment among the youth. Most of the employers today require their employees to

have a minimum working experience of at least two years; this has left most young men

and women in Rubaga division unemployed just because they have just finished school

with no working experience in the recent past. The employers go ahead to demand for

credentials like master’s degree, which the youth have not yet attained at their young age

hence youth unemployment in Rubaga division.

According to the table above, 5% respondents, the poor government policies like taxation

have not favored the youth to set up their own small scale enterprises. Starting up an

enterprise in Uganda requires a lot of capital, paper work and negotiations etc, these

policies have kept most of the young people in Rubaga division have remained

unemployed because they cannot afford to complete all these time and money consuming

exercises.

4.3 Consequences of youth unemployment in Rubaga division

Table 2 Showing the effects of youth unemployment in Rubaga division.

22
 EFFECTS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT No. of Respondents Percentage

Increase in crime rates 24 40%

Low development or under development 12 20%
Drug abuse 9 15%
Increase in spread of STDs among the youth 8 13.3%
Lack of self esteem 7 11.6%
TOTAL 60 100
Source: Primary data

From the table above, it is indicated that the effects of unemployment that are common

include high crime rates represented by 40%, low development or under development by

20%, drug abuse by 15%, increase in spread of STDs among the youth by 13.3%, and

lack of self esteem by 11.6%

From the table above, 15% respondents said that youth unemployment has exposed

young men and women in Rubaga division to drug abuse. Most of the unemployed youth

in Rubaga division spend most of their time consuming drugs and these drugs have

driven them in to committing crime and most of the cases that are being handle by the

police stations include drug abuse. The drugs that are consumed include Khat, marijuana,

etc. These drugs have gone as far as causing mental problems to the youth in Rubaga

division.

According to the table above, 20% respondents, the problem of youth unemployment in

Rubaga division has led to slow development of the community as investor are not

willing to invest their capital in the region because they are fearful of the increasing

number of unemployed youth who may be a threat to their business initiatives and the

community resources have been wasted by the growing number of unemployed youth in

23
Rubaga division. This has made Rubaga slow down in all forms of development e.g. the

place is still having a poor road network, poor school etc.

From the table above, 13.3% respondents said that there is an increase in the spread of

sexually transmitted diseases especially HIV/AIDS. This is so just because most of the

female youth in Rubaga division have decided to go in for prostitution as a way of get a

living because they have been unemployed for so long. Prostitution is the act or practice

of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment or material gains. In

Rubaga, different spots were identified and so many young females were seen standing

besides the roads. These spots included, Mabiito or Babiito in Nateete and Dancers club

in Ndeeba. Most of these young women have ended up acquiring Sexually transmitted

diseases which have claimed most of their lives. Some of the female youth have ended up

getting in to relationships which they are not prepared for and this has exposed them to

problems like domestic violence.

According to the table above, 11.6% respondent pointed out lack of self esteem as

another effect that the unemployed youth are facing. Self-esteem is a term used in

psychology to reflect a person's overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth.

The youth are seeing themselves as being worthless and useless and this is just as a recipe

of their being unemployed.

According to table 2 above, 40% respondents said that there is an increase in the crime

rates in Rubaga division is yet another effect of youth unemployment that most

respondents pointed out. The crimes that are committed included theft, rape, robbery etc.

Most of the crimes that are committed are a result of drug abuse and the major suspects

24
for these cases are the juvenile. This has ruined the life of some youth because they end

up being sentenced to jail. This has made Rubaga division insecure.

4.4 Solutions to youth unemployment in Rubaga division

Table 3 Showing the measures that can be taken to control youth unemployment in

Rubaga division

SOLUTIONS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT No. of Respondents Percentage

Easy access to credit 21 35%

Change education system 13 21.6%
Government should create more jobs 8 13.3%
Government should give youth free business training 8 13.3%
Change government policies 5 8.3%
Encourage investors to invest here 5 8.3%
TOTAL 60 100
Source: primary data

From the table above, it is indicated that respondents suggested the following solutions

to be put in place to end youth unemployment, easy access to credit represented by 35%,

change in education system represented by 21.6%, creation of more jobs by 13.3%, free

business training to the youth by 13.3%, change in government policies by 8.3% and

encouraging more investors to invest here by 8.3%

From the table 3 above, 21.6% respondents said that there is need to change the education

system. Change in education system will mean training youth with entrepreneurial skills.

Respondents attributed this factor or measure to youth employment and they said that the

youth will be able to start up their own small scale businesses. They also advocated for

setting up of vocational institutions training the exploitation of freely available resources

which can be of great importance in youth employment like the art and crafts, brick

25
laying local brewing, carpentry etc. So, the youth can initiate their own business without

seeking from others. The current education system which prepares young graduates to be

job seeker other than job creators should be changed in order to put an end to the problem

of youth unemployment.

According to the table above, 13.3% respondents said that there should be free business

training for the youth in Rubaga division. The training should help to equip the youth

wish the necessary skills to set up their own businesses, manage them and how to sustain

them. This training shall enable the youth in taking advantage of the free available

resources in their communities and make them productive to the rest of the community.

Hence leading to a reduction in the growing rate of youth unemployment in Rubaga

division.

From the table above, 8.3% respondents stressed that the Government should change its

policies that are not favorable to the youth who wish to set up their own small business

enterprises. Starting up an enterprise requires one to negotiate paper work, get licenses

and taxation etc. These policies have made it impossible for most of the youth to start up

their own business. So in order to curb youth unemployment, the government officials in

Rubaga division should review these principles for the good of the youth.

From the table above, 35% respondents suggested that there should be easy access to

credit for the youth; the youth need to access credit and loans easily without any

collateral because they are unemployed and have nowhere to get collateral that maybe

required by the banks and other money lenders. The lending institutions should not ask

for a lot of interest from these people as a way of enabling them develop themselves.

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These respondents suggested that the banks and other money lenders should help the

youth in such a way so as to enable them get capital for starting up their own businesses.

According to the table, 8.5% respondents in Rubaga suggested that the ruling council and

Non government bodies should ask the government to encourage more foreign investors

to come to invest in the country especially in Rubaga division where there is a big labor

force as one of the ways of solving the problem of youth unemployment. This will enable

the youth get jobs from the firms the investors will setup.

From the table above, 13.3% respondents said that the government should create jobs for

the existing population that the country has, putting more emphasis on the young

population it has. They stressed that the youth who are graduating from universities

should automatically get jobs.

4.5 Discussions and interpretations

According to the research that was made, the researcher found out that the major causes

of unemployment among the youth in Rubaga division today are lack of initial capital,

the growing in population and the high illiteracy rate among the youth. The following

causes are in line with the literature review that was given in chapter two.

The consequences of youth unemployment that were found by the researcher did not only

affect the youth but the entire community was affected by the fact that they were

unemployed in that there is an increase in the crime rate, the increased consumption of

drugs which has led to mental problems etc. The researcher found out that most of the

youth who were unemployed would gather in different place and engage in useless

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activities like gambling, etc this kind of practice also had an effect on the other youth

who just associate with them.

The researcher found out that so many solutions were put in place but they were not

being implemented by the government but this is a result of corruption among the

government officials who just decide to embezzle the funds that are meant to be for the

youth. So there needs to be more effort by the government in fighting the officials that

engage in such practices. It was found out that some of the youth were capable of setting

up their own businesses but lacked enough support from the government program e.g. the

NAADS program was not implemented in Rubaga division because the few people who

got the funds for the youth just had to take the money for their own use and personal

benefits.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION AND

AREAS OF FURTHER STUDY

Introduction

The proceedings in the previous chapters have laid a firm foundation upon which the

researcher can draw summary, conclusion, recommendation and suggestion for areas of

further study or research.

The researcher achieved this through the use of questionnaires and interactive

conversations. The questionnaires were designed in form of questions which were

directed towards the research questions that were derived in chapter one. A discussion on

findings, summary, conclusions, recommendations and areas of further research are

presented below.

5.1 Summary of findings according to the objectives of the study

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The summary of findings of the topic “cause of youth unemployment in Rubaga division”

are discussed below

5.1.1 Findings on the causes of youth unemployment in Rubaga division

The research question one was “what are the causes of youth unemployment?” and the

question was intended to find out the causes of youth unemployment in Rubaga division

and some of the major causes that the researcher found out included:

The researcher found out that lack of capital was the major cause of youth unemployment

in Rubaga division and it was represented by 33%. Most of the unemployed youth have

skills that can enable them start and manage their own businesses but they lack easy

access to initial capital because banks and other money landing organizations cannot give

them loans without collateral and yet those who have managed to get the loans, have to

pay a high interest rate.

The researcher found out that Illiteracy was among the major causes of youth

unemployment and it was represented by 23%. Most unemployed youth today have taken

the blame on their being illiterate because most of the jobs that are available today are

meant for the elites, so there should be government intervention in this situation. It should

come out to set free education system so as to enable the youth become literate.

The researcher found out that high population rate of the youth in Rubaga division was

yet another cause of youth unemployment and it was represented by 18.3%. This was one

of those factors that O’Higgins (2000) pointed out as one of the major causes of youth

unemployment, and it has been found out that youth unemployment in Rubaga division is

partly caused by the increase in the population of the youth.

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It can be safely said from the information gathered that youth unemployment cannot be

generalized as being caused by just one thing, but is caused by a variety of reasons. Some

of the main factors are: lack of relevant skills, educational qualifications, and tribalism.

The study found out that most of the programs that were put in place to solve youth

unemployment in Rubaga division are not being implemented but more emphasis should

be put in educating people and creating jobs.

5.1.2 Findings on the effects of youth unemployment in Rubaga division

Research question two was “What are the effects of youth unemployment?” and the

effects that were given by different respondents are in line with those that were found in

the literature review of youth unemployment. Some effects that the researcher found out

include:

The researcher found out that the major effect of youth unemployment is increase in the

crime rates and this was represented by 40% respondents said that there is an increase in

the crime rates when the youth are unemployed i.e. there are cases like theft, robbery,

rape etc. This is in agreement with what Blanchflower (2009) says, that youth

unemployment leads to an increase in the crime rates whereby he went ahead to show and

expound the survey that was carried out by the UK police showing how you crime

involvement was increasing. Hutton (1973) also talked about crime as the last resort for

unemployed person, this included stealing etc.

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Another effect that that the researcher found out was lack of self esteem and it is

represented by 11.6%; most unemployed youth are faced with that problem which further

drives them into consuming opium hence leading to mental problems. Goldsmith, Veum

and Darity (1996, 1997) found, for example, using data from the US national

Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY) that being jobless injures self-esteem, and fosters

feelings of externality and helplessness among youths. Moreover, they also found

evidence that the psychological imprint of joblessness persists.

The researcher found out that the effects that were caused by youth unemployment were

not only affecting the youth only but they also affected the community directly or

indirectly. So there is need for immediate intervention by both Government and Non

Government organizations.

5.1.3 Findings on the solutions of youth unemployment in Rubaga division

Research question three was “What can be done to solve youth unemployment?” The

respondents suggested a lot of solutions that should be put in place to fight youth

unemployment, these included the following:

The study found out that there is need for easy access to credit for the youth; this was

represented by 35%. This would enable the youth access capital to set up their businesses.

Formation of micro credit schemes which can lend money to the unemployed youth to

setup their own businesses was also one of the solutions that the respondents in Rubaga

suggested. This is in line with Richard Curtain (20 August, 2000), discussion about the

set up of micro credit schemes as a way of empowering the unemployed youth.

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The study found out that there was need for the government to offer free business training

to the unemployed youth in Rubaga division and this was represented by 13.3%. This was

one of the solutions which were included in the world employment report (ILO 1998).

The researcher found out that there was need to change the education system and this is

represented by 21.6%. This shall help if the education system is changed into being more

practical because it shall equip the youth with necessary skills which will enable the to

set up their own small scale businesses.

The researcher found out that there were some solutions that were put in place to help in

solving the problem of youth unemployment but unfortunately they were not

implemented so this requires all the stake holders to come and make sure that these

solutions are being implemented for the good of the youth in Rubaga division.

The findings that were got by the researcher from the field are in agreement with the

literature of the topic of causes of youth unemployment in Rubaga division.

5.2 Conclusion

The major cause of youth unemployment included high illiteracy rate among the youth

and lack of capital. The research showed that illiteracy is the major cause of

unemployment among the youth but this can be overcome by offering free education to

the youth. The causes of youth unemployment in Rubaga can be overcome if the

Government and Non Government bodies come in and help the youth improve the

entrepreneurial skills that they have and enable them access loans without collateral.

The effects of youth unemployment included, increase in crime rates, lack of self esteem

etc. the major effect of youth unemployment that was pointed out is the increase in the

33
crime rates and according to the government and police officials most of these crimes

were partly as a result of drug abuse among the juveniles.

All these effects can be overcome by helping the youth get employed. The general

observation here is that the unemployment problem does not only affect them but also the

community.

The solutions that need to be put in place are so many but it was found out that most of

them were not implemented, so this requires the Government and all stakeholders to

come together and implement the solutions that were put in place to solve youth

unemployment in Rubaga division.

5.3 Recommendations.

Higher institutions like the Government, Non Government Organizations, youth councils

and ministries, universities, vocational institutions and the youth themselves etc are

recommended to take the following actions so as to curb youth unemployment:

There is need to establish a youth development bank in Rubaga division to facilitate the

provision of financial services to the youth. This will solace the problem of accessibility

to startup capital as a result of their lack of collateral. This is because most of them youth

in Rubaga division lack startup capital, so the presence of this bank shall help them put

an end this problem.

The Government in Uganda should establish a full and independent ministry of the youth.

This ministry would help in identifying the problems that the youth are facing and devise

solutions to them. This is because the current ministry under which the youth belong is

overloaded with too much concern which tends to overshadow the youth needs. So an

34
independent youth ministry shall ensure focused planning and implementation of youth

development.

The youth should review programs such as “youth entrepreneurship scheme

“entandikwa”, youth entrepreneurship schemes etc that previously failed so that they can

build a strong partnership for viable and productive ventures so as to end youth

unemployment in Rubaga division.

The Government should strengthen the Anti-Corruption Agencies at all levels to fight

all civil servants who are engaged in corruption. This shall restrict on those who employ

their relatives and friends yet they do not qualify to be employed.

The youth should shift away from the useless practices that they engage themselves in

like sports betting which has kept them poor etc to real empowerment so as to be job

makers but not seekers.

The Government is recommended to set up productivity centers where the youth should

go and access free training on how to set up small scale enterprises. This would equip the

youth with the necessary skills for managing their own businesses and enable them

identify business opportunities which they may take advantage of.

The youth should adopt and instill in themselves the culture of saving for future

investment. This shall also help them with startup capital solution hence enabling them to

create their own small scale businesses.

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The Government should provide more access to basic education and invest more in

vocational training and streamline the education system to have work transitions while at

school so that the issues of experience do not arise.

5.4 Areas of further study

It is recommended that more research is done regarding the levels of education and

unemployment among the youth as follows:

 Why some youth have negative attitude towards youth entrepreneurship projects

and trainings in their communities?

 How unemployment can lead to domestic violence in different communities?

36
 REFERENCES

Blanchflower (2009), Youth Unemployment: Déjà Vu?

Caroline Hutton (1973), a study of unemployment and Reluctant farmers

Commonwealth Secretariat (May 2004)

Commonwealth youth programme report (1996)

International Labour Organization,

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/unemployment

Human Resource Development Convention (1975)

ILO (1998), World employment report 1998-99

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/download/magazine/pdf/mag27.pdf

Inter Africa Labor Institute (1962), the symposium on unemployed youth.

International Labour Organization,

37
Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/unemployment

Niall O’Higgins (2000), Youth unemployment and employment policy

Richard Curtain (2000), Identify the basis for a youth employment strategy aimed at transition and

developing economies.

http://www.curtain-consulting.net.au/download_controlled/Youth%20&%20Development/

CurtainattachmentBackgroundpaperYEN.pdf

Richard Curtain (2001), Youth and Employment: a Public Policy Perspective

www.curtain-consulting.net.au/download_controlled/.../youthpol.pdf

Saturday monitor (August, 21, 2010) special report: Population time bomb: 89m Ugandans

by 2037

The Uganda National Youth Statute (1993)

The 1995 constitution of the Republic of Uganda

The National Youth commission act (1996)

Training for Employment report (ILO 2000)

United Nation Population Fund Report (UNFPA 2005)

Unemployment rates around the World

http://www.visualeconomics.com/unemployment-rates-around-the-world/

38
Youth Development Trust report (2005)

World Development report (2007)

APPENDIX I:

QUESTIONARE

I am Katamba Abraham, a student at Makerere University carrying out a study on the

causes of youth unemployment. I therefore kindly request you to answer these questions
below. The information you give is strictly for academic reasons.

Instructions: Please tick in appropriate answer.

Section A: Background

Name…………………………………….. (Optional)

1. Gender

Male female

2. Age bracket?

15-18 19-30 31-35 36 and above

3. Have you ever been in school?

Yes No

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4. If yes, what is your level of qualification?

None Primary Secondary University

5. Are you employed?

Yes No

6. Give reasons for the above answer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. Are all your relatives and friends employed?

Yes No

8. Give reasons for your answer above

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. What problems do the unemployed youth face in your community?

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. What are the effects of youth unemployment in Rubaga division?

………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. What are the effects of youth unemployment on the economic growth of Rubaga
division?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. What measures have been put in place to control youth unemployment in your
community?

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………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………..

13. What advice would you give the unemployed youth in your community?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
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………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………..

14. What do you think is the immediate solution to this unemployment problem?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

15. What advice would you give the government and Non government organizations
concerning youth unemployment?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

16. Do you have any suggestions on how the unemployment problem of young people
could be solved?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRECIOUS TIME!

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