RECRUITMENT SYSTEM AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT IN UGANDA

Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analyst
Dishma-Inc.
P.O. Box 8885,
Kampala-Uganda
Tel. +256392614655/+256752542504
dishma.imhs@gmail.com
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com

Since liberalizing the economy in 1887, government of the national resistance movement has had either all its corporations sold off or mismanaged. All those that suffered mismanagement collapsed indefinitely. Private sector, now, determines the fate of young employees –with no government intervention.

With emphasis of education being put on sitting in offices, the reality has been far different. That prompts Uganda’s most ambitious yet promising youth to be focused on getting recruited into powerful corporate and government jobs as well as by means of innovations –something that in many cases never come their way.

With 37% young people showing their potential for development; 24% not; 38% (sometimes); and 1% (do not know), many Ugandans are still held up in the past –where education automatically guaranteed Ugandans a place in the labor market.

It can be further stressed that changed socioeconomic structures and dynamics mean something different –which gave way to the most creative to rule rather than those hoping to receive a telephone call for a waiting job. As a result, young people, now, are hopeless about the future. The matter is made even worse by the lack of government intervention in the economy where the private sector rules.

Either ways the argument that more investment will help create jobs only causes dissatisfaction among Ugandans as such is characterized by poor conditions of work –without weekend rests, maternal leave, a good pay, and respect for public holidays –yet with creative works and private investment one would have time to himself or herself; personal programming –to the best interest of the individual.

Highly flexible employment regulations enhance overall productivity growth and employment opportunities. Any regulations set by government of Uganda today only caters for the massive benefit of the foreign investors while ignoring the citizens’ economic standing.

Yet it is the local population that provides an alternative market for industrial goods. It is different, though, to firms that produce for export only. It is here that the population becomes most irrelevant.

And unfair recruitment system at 78% spells the difficult environment government finds itself in –where, because of the high demand for jobs by thousands of graduates each year, not all are absorbed into the public sector.

As a result, the stiff competition for jobs compels officials to find alternatives to cope with the situation –which include price tags on advertised jobs such that the highest bidder takes it all, or by reserving them for a family friend or relative –who is going through the same agony –of finding a job.

In conclusion, the unfair recruitment system at 78% is a product of circumstances –of congested labor market and population explosion. And, with exploring to talents and potential for development at 37%, it is a terrible situation –which will only increase unemployment and associated risks like crime and costs of dealing with it.

There is thus need to promote entrepreneurial mentalities from family levels through schools and tertiary institutions –which will reduce the burden of forced nepotism and bribery in the country.

However, such initiatives for development among recent graduates must not be resolved theoretically, but with financial backing given to them –as they graduate from schools and tertiary institutions –to go out and develop precious ideas they nurse. Such ideas ought to consider the abandoned agricultural potential.