DEGREES WITHOUT JOBS! M7 Blames Poor Career Guidance… Schools Accused Of Failing To Steer Students Into Science, ICT & Engineering
Gulu University students dance along side the University traditional dance troupe during the 22nd graduation on Friday
President Yoweri Museveni has attributed persistent graduate unemployment partly to inadequate career guidance in schools, warning that the limited uptake of science and technology courses is creating a mismatch between university training and labour market demands.
Museveni said that although professions such as medicine, engineering, nursing and information technology remain in high demand, many students are not adequately guided towards these fields, leaving employers struggling to find the skills they need while graduates compete for limited opportunities.
His remarks were delivered by First Deputy Prime Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga, who represented him at Gulu University’s 22nd graduation ceremony on Friday, November 13, 2026. A total of 1,755 students graduated at the ceremony held at the university playground in Gulu City, marking the highest number of graduates since the institution was established in 2002.
Museveni noted that the education system needed to respond more effectively to the demands of the labour market by equipping learners with practical and diverse skills, particularly in science-based disciplines.
“Due to lack of career guidance in schools, fewer students are choosing ICT and science-based courses, creating a mismatch between the university curriculum and the job market in the private sector, leading to high unemployment among young graduates,” he said.
He identified doctors, accountants, science teachers, ICT experts, nurses and engineers among the professionals in demand, urging schools and universities to strengthen career guidance and encourage learners to pursue courses that offer relevant employment opportunities.
Museveni also challenged graduates to look beyond formal employment and use their knowledge and skills to create jobs and wealth, in line with the government’s socioeconomic transformation agenda. He encouraged them to embrace healthy lifestyles through physical exercise, sports and spirituality while supporting their families in building wealth.
The Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, also challenged universities to move beyond awarding academic qualifications and focus on producing graduates with practical competencies to develop products and generate wealth.
In a written message read by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Canon Kedrace Turyagenda, Mrs Museveni said employers were increasingly interested in what graduates could demonstrate and produce rather than the academic certificates they held.
“We are transiting from just looking at a piece of paper to looking at the competencies of every graduate at every level. The world is not so much interested in the paper you carry but in how much you can produce,” she said.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting research, science, technology and innovation, urging universities to translate research findings into practical products and solutions that address societal challenges.
Gulu University Chancellor Dr Ruhakana Rugunda challenged graduates to become problem solvers and agents of change rather than remain spectators and commentators on societal challenges.
In a message delivered by Vice-Chancellor Professor George Ladaah Openjuru, Rugunda described the academic qualifications awarded as instruments of liberation, problem-solving tools and keys to unlocking a prosperous future.
He urged graduates to apply the knowledge and skills acquired at the university to address challenges facing their communities, Uganda and Africa. Rugunda also encouraged graduates to take advantage of government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) to establish enterprises and become employers rather than job seekers.
At this year’s ceremony, Gulu University awarded four doctoral degrees, 183 master’s degrees, 137 postgraduate qualifications, 145 Higher Access Education Certificates and 1,284 undergraduate degrees.
The university also conferred a posthumous Honorary Doctor of Science degree on the late Dr Cyprian Opira and an Honorary PhD on Stella Mistica Sabiti. Science programmes accounted for 39 per cent of the university’s academic programmes, while humanities disciplines constituted 61 per cent.
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