BrighterMonday Uganda in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, successfully concluded its inaugural Eastern Career Fair, hosted at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Mbale Main Campus.
The two-day event, centered around the powerful theme of ‘Bridging Dreams and Opportunities’ and structured into key days, drew in an unprecedented turnout of over 1,500 enthusiastic participants, including students, job seekers, regional employers, and government officials.
The fair was strategically designed to tackle the growing skills gap and youth unemployment challenge in Eastern Uganda, providing a critical interface between local talent and formal sector opportunities.
The CEO Vision Group, Don Wanyama, underscored the significance of events that platforms like these to the careers of young people.
“I have been in the business of employment for over 20 years, as an employee but also as someone who basically recruits. And I know that many times we get young people coming to us and they are so deficient in the necessary skills and all these things,” he said, adding, “So when someone creates a platform like this to empower these young people, this must be commended and appreciated.”
He noted, “Like I said to the young people, it is important for you to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, you don’t have the drive. You must have an idea of what you want to do. There are going to be obstacles along the way, there will be setbacks. But if you know the purpose for your dream, you keep soldiering. So that was my message to them.”
Pamela Kabahesi, the Country Programme Lead at Brighter Monday Uganda encouraged the youth to take charge of their future, “Take charge of your life. Do what you need to do to improve yourself every day. If it is looking for opportunities, the onus is on you.”
The agenda was packed with actionable sessions aimed at equipping youth with relevant, modern-day employment skills.
A core commitment of the fair was fostering inclusive employment. This was emphasized during the panel discussion on “Inclusive Employment: Opportunities for young women and PWDs,” which brought together employers and representatives from various social groups to share best practices.