Brighter Monday’s HR Fusion Tackles Skills Gap, Fosters Inclusion for Young Talents

BrighterMonday Uganda has held a high-impact event to explore actionable strategies for building inclusive, high-performing workplaces.

Titled “HR Fusion: Fostering Belonging for Every Talent to Thrive at Work”, the event brought together HR professionals, business leaders, and managers from various sectors—including manufacturing, hospitality, health, ICT, and NGOs.

The forum centered on the importance of belonging in employee engagement, retention, organizational growth, and featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and practical breakout sessions.

“At BrighterMonday Uganda, we understand that belonging is the foundation for engagement and productivity,” said Pamela Kabahesi, Country Programmes Lead. “When employees feel seen, valued, and included, their performance improves, and so does the organization’s overall output.”

Kabahesi emphasized that inclusion isn’t a vague concept but a strategic imperative.
“HR Fusion was about giving employers practical tools to make inclusion real—especially in sectors like manufacturing and hospitality where diversity can be both a strength and a challenge.”


Through breakout sessions, the teams addressed daily practices that HR teams can adopt to create inclusive environments. Discussions covered celebrating diverse ideas, inclusive leadership, and tools to measure belonging’s impact on retention.

Susan Mataka, Head of Human Resource at Kakira Sugar emphasized that employers must be intentional about inclusion.

“Companies need to set clear targets and monitor progress. Inclusivity cannot be ignored in today’s workplace.”

“We have talent from diverse backgrounds—refugees, people with disabilities, and different genders. Inclusion means hiring with the intention of creating a balanced and empowered workforce.”

Mataka urged companies to use data to inform hiring decisions and identify underrepresented groups in their sectors.

“Once businesses understand who’s missing from their workforce, they can develop strategies to close that gap while ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.”

Ahmed Alaga, Head of Programs and Impact Partnerships at The African Talent Company—BrighterMonday Uganda’s parent firm—shared valuable insights on the importance of cultural awareness and employer engagement in addressing youth unemployment.

“Culture plays a huge role in how young people present themselves in interviews. For instance, in some African communities, looking someone in the eye is seen as disrespectful, but in professional settings, it may be misinterpreted as lacking confidence.”

“We’re working to bridge these gaps through training that covers employability, communication, and critical thinking—especially for underserved youth and women.”

Alaga also highlighted the growing disconnect between education and market needs.

“Many employers say fresh graduates are not job-ready. Some degrees become outdated in less than four years due to fast-changing technology and workplace trends,” he noted.

“By regularly engaging with employers, we tailor our training and career support to meet real-world demands—ensuring our talent pool is not just qualified, but competitive.”

The HR Fusion event reinforced BrighterMonday Uganda’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Program, which focuses on creating dignified and fulfilling work for youth.

By targeting employers with 20–50 staff—primarily SMEs in key growth sectors—the initiative ensures inclusive hiring practices are embraced across the board. It also supports employer-talent matchmaking and strengthens the job placement ecosystem.

“This isn’t a one-time conversation,” Kabahesi added. “It’s part of an ongoing effort to build a future where every Ugandan talent belongs, contributes meaningfully, and grows in their career.”