The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Youth League has welcomed and endorsed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s proposal to establish a Graduates Fund aimed at empowering unemployed university graduates and accelerating wealth creation among the educated youth.
In a statement issued on Saturday from the Office of the Chairman Youth League, the NRM youth arm said the proposed fund reflects the President’s long-standing vision of shifting young people from job-seeking to job and wealth creation, in response to the realities of a competitive and evolving economy.
According to the Youth League, the proposed Graduates Fund would target university graduates who fail to secure formal employment within two years after completing their studies, providing them with structured start-up capital to launch viable business enterprises.
“The President has consistently guided the country towards a mindset shift from job-seeking to wealth creation,” the statement reads, quoting Museveni as saying that graduates who do not get jobs within two years should access capital to start their own businesses.
The Youth League noted that despite academic qualifications, many graduates remain unemployed for extended periods, making the fund a timely intervention to unlock their productivity and creativity. The proposed financing would be accessed through organised channels such as Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), enabling beneficiaries to establish sustainable enterprises and contribute to national development.
The NRM Youth League emphasized that the initiative should not be viewed as a handout, but rather as a strategic investment in Uganda’s educated youth. It added that the fund aligns with the government’s broader socio-economic agenda, which prioritizes commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and information and communication technology (ICT) as key drivers of growth and employment.
The youth body also called upon graduates across the country to organise themselves, develop viable business ideas, and prepare to take advantage of the opportunity once implementation guidelines are issued by the relevant authorities.
“This fund is a clear demonstration that the NRM government listens, responds, and acts to ensure that no young Ugandan is left behind,” the statement said.
The NRM Youth League pledged to continue mobilising and sensitising graduates to fully understand and benefit from the initiative as further details are rolled out.
The statement clarified that the proposed Graduates Fund will strictly target graduates who have failed to secure employment within two years after graduation.
