Republic of Uganda

MINISTRY OF GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

PRESS STATEMENT

By
MINISTER OF GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE
4TH ANNUAL NATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTION & EXPO, 2026
UGANDA MEDIA CENTRE, KAMPALA
MARCH 23, 2026

Distinguished Members of the Press,
1. It is my honour to address you today regarding the 4th Annual National Labour Convention & Expo, 2026, which will be held at the Kampala Serena Hotel from Wednesday, 15th to Thursday, 16th April 2026, under the theme: “Unlocking the Potential of Uganda’s Youth Labour Force: Advancing Productivity and Expanding Opportunities for Decent Work.” The convention will be presided over by Her Excellency the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda who will also serve as Chief Guest. The Convention also forms part of the build-up activities leading to the commemoration of the International Labour Day on 1st May 2026, providing a national platform for dialogue on Uganda’s labour market priorities.
2. Since its launch in 2023, the Annual National Labour Convention & Expo has grown into one of Uganda’s key platforms for shaping the world of work. It convenes government, employers, workers’ organisations, development partners, academia, and civil society to generate actionable commitments on decent employment, labour productivity, and inclusive growth. The 2026 edition builds on three successful Conventions to advance Uganda’s progress toward its Tenfold Growth Strategy, Vision 2040, and NDP IV.
3. Uganda’s population stands at approximately 45.9 million, with over 75% below the age of 30 and the working-age population accounting for about 57.4% of all Ugandans. However, over 80 % of the labour force remains in the informal economy, characterised by low productivity, job insecurity, and limited social protection. Youth unemployment currently stands at 13.3%, while many more young people remain underemployed or engaged in vulnerable work. Unlocking the productive potential of this youthful majority is both an economic imperative and a pathway to Uganda’s long-term prosperity.
4. The 4th Annual National Labour Convention and Expo, 2026 will focus on four strategic objectives, which are;
i. analysing opportunities to harness Uganda’s youth labour force as a catalyst for productivity and structural transformation;
ii. identifying and addressing policy and institutional barriers that limit youth access to decent work;
iii. promoting scalable strategies such as skills development, apprenticeships, digital skilling, and education-to-employment pathways; and
iv. strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships that generate actionable commitments to expand decent employment and extend social protection to all young workers.
5. The Convention will bring together Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, senior Government officials, top private sector leaders, heads of employers’ and workers’ organisations, development partners, and civil society organisations. Their collective engagement will align national policy direction with practical on-the-ground solutions, showcase scalable innovations, and generate concrete commitments to enhance labour productivity, youth employment, and inclusive economic growth.
6. I therefore call upon businesses, innovation-driven enterprises, training institutions, financial service providers, and development organisations to take advantage of the Expo platform to showcase innovations, services, and programmes that support job creation, skills development, and labour productivity. Interested exhibitors and partners are invited to submit their applications through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development website to collaborate in making this Convention and Expo a resounding success. Your participation will directly contribute to advancing Uganda’s agenda for youth employment, productivity, and decent work for all.
7. Ladies and Gentlemen, please note that the 4th Annual National Labour Convention & Expo is an invite-only event. Accredited delegates and confirmed participants are warmly invited to join us at the Kampala Serena Hotel from 15th to 16th April, 2026. Members of the public are encouraged to follow the proceedings through live broadcasts on national television and other media platforms.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.
Amongi Betty Ongom (MP)
MINISTER OF GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT