According to research conducted by UBOS in 2024, Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with over 75% under the age of 30 (UBOS, 2024). This reality presents a paradox: while the youth have enormous potential to drive national development, unemployment and underemployment remain persistently high. To bridge this gap, government, private sector, and civil society actors have introduced various programs. Yet, many young people remain unaware of these opportunities or lack access to them.
One organization that has taken bold steps to close this gap is Wezesha Impact. For the last decade, Wezesha Impact has empowered more than 25,000 youth across Uganda with entrepreneurial skills, mentorship, and digital solutions to improve their livelihoods. Their approach blends capacity building, mentorship, and technology to inspire young people to create jobs rather than wait for them.
Alex Byaruhanga explaining to Wezesha Impact Executive Director how he turns paw paw leaves into bathing soap.
Alex Byarugaba, a Wezesha Impact alumnus and founder of Chokmah Industries Limited, is a shining example of how entrepreneurship can transform lives. While many young people shy away from manufacturing, Alex embraced it, recognizing its potential for innovation and job creation.
“The good thing with manufacturing is that you add value to something that would have been wasted. Now, I make soap from pawpaw leaves and moringa. It gives me joy to see my team and I transform something as ordinary as a fallen pawpaw leaf into a bathing soap.” Alex explains.
“Looking for a job sometimes feels like cheating yourself. You wait for a whole month to get a salary, yet in business, you determine your price and income. Don’t fear risks. Don’t fear to start. Begin with the little you have because even employment isn’t guaranteed companies can shut down anytime.” Alex believes employment often limits young people’s potential.
What keeps Chokmah Industries competitive is Alex’s commitment to quality. He credits Wezesha Impact’s mentorship and digital innovations, such as Bizcount, for strengthening his business operations. Developed after the Digitalize Your Business training, Bizcount is a mobile application that enables entrepreneurs to track income, expenses, and purchases with ease. The app provides summaries in weeks, months, and years, along with histograms and pie charts to visualize financial performance helping youth make informed business decisions.
Building Partnerships for Greater Impact
Wezesha Impact’s work has not gone unnoticed. According to Kizito Semwogerere Deogracias, National Chairman of the Uganda Association of Private Vocational Institutions (UGAPRIVI), Wezesha’s mentorship model fills a critical gap.
“We have been teaching people, but what we lacked was mentorship and coaching. Teaching alone, without preparing students to run businesses, may not be meaningful. That’s why we chose to partner with Wezesha Impact. Their entrepreneurship skills programs are now integrated in over 20 vocational schools, helping students not only acquire knowledge but also start businesses to fight poverty.” – Kizito Semwogerere
Preparing Youth for Business and Beyond
In his address during the dialogue, Solomon Mugambe, Executive Director of Wezesha Impact, emphasized the urgency of empowering youth to be both job creators and job-ready.
“With 75% of Uganda’s population below 30, if youth are not engaged in productive activities, the future is at risk. That’s why we partner with government and private actors to equip them with the skills they need to start businesses and access jobs.”
Wezesha Impact has also extended its work to returned migrants young Ugandans who travel abroad in search of better opportunities but often return home disillusioned or financially unstable. Many lose their hard-earned savings to poor planning or exploitation. Wezesha equips them with entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills to reinvest their earnings productively.
“Looking ahead, Wezesha plans to reach 5,000 youth in 2025 and double that number to 10,000 by 2026, scaling its impact nationwide” Solomon Mugambe added.
Solomon Kayiwa Mugambe – Executive Director Wezesha Impact.
Youth, Government, and the Call to Action
Government actors have also recognized the value of youth entrepreneurship. Mondo Kyateka, Assistant Commissioner for Youth and Children’s Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, encouraged youth to view problems as business opportunities
“Every problem you see can be a business idea. When government puts up programs like the Youth Livelihood Program or capital funds, don’t politicize them. Go for the money, use it wisely, and stay consistent. Persistence breaks resistance.”
He also cautioned youth to invest in businesses that are ethical and compliant with regulations, to ensure sustainability and growth.
Mondo Kyateka, Assistant Commissioner for Youth and Children’s Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development moderating the dialogue yesterday at Wezesha Impact offices in Kabusu Road, Kampala Uganda.
For over a decade, Wezesha Impact has demonstrated that empowering youth with the right skills, mentorship, and tools can transform unemployment challenges into opportunities for innovation and economic growth. From soap made of pawpaw leaves to digital tools like Bizcount, the ripple effects of Wezesha’s work are evident in the thousands of businesses started, jobs created, and dreams realized.
As Uganda positions its youthful majority at the center of development, stories like Alex’s remind us that the journey from job-seeker to job-creator begins with courage, mentorship, and the right support system.
Chrismas Mucunguzi is a versatile Writer at Kampala Edge Times, Communication Specialist, Digital Content creator, Certified SIYB Trainer. He's passionate about Youth Skilling and Employment. He's worked for Wezesha Impact, 40 Days Over 40 Smiles, Kichini Gardeners Initiative, Next Education Solutions under Communication Department. Chrismas believes that Youth are the promise of the future.
