The Minister of Finance (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, has urged students in higher institutions of learning to become proactive in addressing unemployment instead of waiting for government jobs.
Speaking on Sunday at Kirigime Guest House in Kabale Municipality during an engagement with members of the Kabale Rubanda Students Association (KABRUSA), Minister Musasizi said youth unemployment has become a major concern for finance leaders worldwide.
“The World Bank and Ministers of Finance globally are worried about the growing number of young people who graduate every year but remain jobless. We are now asking ourselves: how do we shape policy to directly respond to this challenge?” he said.
The Minister challenged students to use the knowledge acquired in school to create opportunities rather than depending solely on formal employment.
“The knowledge you acquire from university should help you secure a job or generate income. I am a Minister today not by accident, I planned for it. Nothing just happens. Even for a tree to grow, you must plant and nurture it. Likewise, you must plan for what you want to become and what you need to succeed,” he emphasized.
Minister Musasizi encouraged students to align their skills with market demands, narrating how he personally prepared for employment during his university days.
“Every Monday and Wednesday, I would go to the library to read the ‘Monitor newspaper’, checking job descriptions for accountants. I would ask myself: What do they require? What do accountants do? Then I trained myself accordingly,” he shared.
He also warned learners against negative peer influence.
“The type of friends you associate with matters. Friends can either build you or derail you. Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you,” he advised.
On governance, the Minister called on young people to actively participate in politics and demand accountable leadership.
“If youths neglect politics, they risk being ruled by incapable leaders who prioritize personal gain over service delivery,” he said.
As the country heads toward the 2026 general elections, Minister Musasizi urged students to evaluate leaders based on their tangible contributions rather than longevity in office.
“Tenure should not be the reason for voting. Focus on leaders who have made real sacrifices to improve people’s lives,” he remarked.
Speaking as the Chief Guest, the Rubanda District Woman Member of Parliament Aspirant, Ms Evelyne Ninsiima Kikafunda, expressed deep concern over the growing cases of mental breakdown among youths in the Kigezi Sub-region.
“The number of youths silently battling depression is alarming,” she said. “Many are breaking down mentally because they have no one to talk to.”
Ms Ninsiima attributed the rising crisis to unaddressed depression and lack of counseling, warning that the situation has led to an increase in suicide cases and emotional instability among young people.
“We are losing our children not because they are weak, but because their pain is unheard,” she added. “Without proper counseling, stress turns into despair.”
She called for urgent strengthening of counseling programs in secondary schools and universities, noting that young people must be equipped with practical tools to manage stress and avoid making fatal decisions.
“Every school should have active counseling sessions,” Ms Ninsiima stressed. “Mental health support is not a luxury, it is a necessity.”
She further advised students to avoid peer pressure and drug abuse, which she said have worsened the situation.
“Do not let friends push you into habits that destroy your future,” she urged. “Stay focused, be disciplined, and set achievable goals.”
Ms Ninsiima appealed to leaders, parents, and institutions across Kigezi to treat mental health as a regional emergency.
“If we address these issues today, we shall raise a generation that is strong, productive, and hopeful,” she said.
Kigezi has witnessed a disturbing increase in suicide incidents, leaving residents worried about the root causes and how best to intervene.
In April this year, Nikita Kiconco, a Senior Six student at Solberg College in Kabale District, took her own life by hanging on Easter Sunday.
In July, Victor Mugarura, a 22-year-old first-year student at Kabale University and resident of Hamurara Cell, Nyamiyaga Ward, Bubaare Town Council in Rubanda District, also committed suicide by hanging.
In August, Victor Nkamwesiga, 37, a resident of Rutooma Cell, Kashojwa Parish in Kanungu District, was found dead after hanging himself from a jackfruit tree.
Ms Ninsiima’s call serves as a wake-up call to policymakers, educators, and families to take collective action before more young lives are lost.
“Mental health should be treated with the same urgency as any other crisis,” she said. “Our youths need healing, not judgment.”
