education 6 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Unemployment in Uganda is 'unjustified,' says Gulu University VC Prof. Openjuru
Gulu University Vice Chancellor, Professor George Openjuru Ladaah, has declared unemployment in Uganda unjustified, asserting that numerous untapped opportunities exist within the nation's economy, even in areas often overlooked. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/even-people-dying-is-another-opportunity-for-jobs-prof-openjuru-5585208
Professor George Openjuru Ladaah, the Vice Chancellor of Gulu University, has strongly criticized the level of unemployment in Uganda, calling it “unjustified.” He argues that the country is far from economic maturity and possesses abundant opportunities that are currently being missed.
According to Prof. Openjuru, even seemingly grim situations present chances for employment. He cited the funeral industry as a prime example, noting that what was once a despised sector is now a thriving business. Similarly, he highlighted waste management as a significant job creator, referencing a former student who became a successful tycoon in Kampala through garbage collection.
“The unemployment in Uganda is unjustified, but maybe it is justified because, as Universities, we are training useless people who cannot think for themselves,” Prof. Openjuru stated, emphasizing a need for curriculum reform to foster critical thinking among graduates.
He further elaborated that students are often trained to seek employment rather than to identify and create economic opportunities. Prof. Openjuru also pointed to agriculture as a sector with extensive value chains, where graduates could find substantial employment, from farming to product marketing and scientific management.
The Vice Chancellor urged graduates with degrees that do not align with the current economic landscape to return to university for further training. Gulu University plans to implement a competency-based learning approach to equip students with the skills to identify and fill gaps in the market, thereby enhancing production and creating their own opportunities.
Prof. Openjuru expressed frustration with the constant requests for jobs he receives, stating, “Every day I get irritated, inundated, flooded by requests for jobs… I get irritated because I say jobs are everywhere if you can only open your eyes a little and put your heart a little more.”
He stressed the principle that “If everybody eats, everybody should produce value,” advocating for a proactive approach where individuals create value rather than solely seeking employment. The university’s recent Memorandum of Understanding with Epiflex Agrovet Solutions Limited aims to enhance practical training and industrial attachments for agriculture students.