‘Museveni’s new graduates fund plan will ease youth unemployment’

The Commissioner National Patriotism Corps, Hellen Saku, has welcomed President Yoweri Museveni’s plan to introduce a special fund targeting university graduates who have spent at least two years without finding employment, describing the move as a major step toward tackling Uganda’s persistent youth unemployment crisis.

Speaking during an online engagement ahead of the 2026 general elections, Saku said the proposed initiative outlined in the 2026–2031 NRM manifesto aims to provide capital to unemployed graduates to start their own enterprises as a pathway to self-employment and socio-economic empowerment.

According to Saku, the fund will specifically target graduates who have failed to secure work two years after completing their studies, a group she said represents a growing burden on families struggling to support children long after they have left university.

“The purpose of this fund is to give graduates capital to begin their own businesses. It is meant to address youth unemployment and ease the financial pressure on families that have laboured to educate their children,” she said.

Saku argued that the initiative, once rolled out, could be a turning point for thousands of young Ugandans shut out of the job market. She praised the President for what she called a renewed push to uplift young people from poverty through a broad mix of livelihood programmes.

“This time the NRM government has the answer for the hustlers, the jobless youth,” she said, adding that Uganda’s existing funds, including the Youth Livelihood Programme, Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM), would complement the new graduates’ initiative.

Urging Ugandans to prepare for the 2026 elections, Saku (2nd L) encouraged young people to participate peacefully and focus on the opportunities available to them in the next political term.

However, she issued a stern warning to government officials who may attempt to frustrate or misuse the proposed fund, saying she and other patriotism volunteers would come for any civil servants or politicians who try to divert or embezzle money meant for graduate empowerment.

“Once this programme starts, anyone who stands in its way or tries to misuse it will be crushed,” she said.

Saku described the 2026–2031 manifesto as the best ever, saying its provisions from page 72 onward highlight opportunities tailored to young Ugandans seeking economic advancement.

“This time, we no longer want to see poor youth. The President has given us an answer,” she said.

Urging Ugandans to prepare for the 2026 elections, Saku encouraged young people to participate peacefully and focus on the opportunities available to them in the next political term.