Labour Convention 2026 to Spotlight Youth Employment and Productivity

Uganda is set to host the 4th Annual National Labour Convention & Expo 2026 at Kampala Serena Hotel from Wednesday, 15th to Thursday, 16th April 2026. The event will run under the theme: “Unlocking the Potential of Uganda’s Youth Labour Force: Advancing Productivity and Expanding Opportunities for Decent Work.”

According to the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Hon. Esther Davinia Anyakun, the convention will be presided over by the Vice President of Uganda, who will serve as Chief Guest.

The convention is part of the build-up activities leading to the commemoration of International Labour Day on 1st May 2026. It provides a national platform for dialogue on Uganda’s labour market priorities.

Since its launch in 2023, Hon. Anyakun noted that the Annual National Labour Convention & Expo has grown into one of the country’s key platforms for shaping the future 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 towards its Tenfold Growth Strategy, Vision 2040, and NDP IV,” she said.

The minister further highlighted that Uganda’s population stands at approximately 45.9 million, with more than 75 percent below the age of 30. The working-age population accounts for about 57.4 percent of the total population.

However, over 80 percent of the labour force remains in the informal sector, which is characterised by low productivity, job insecurity, and limited social protection. Youth unemployment stands at 13.3 percent, with many more young people underemployed or engaged in vulnerable work.

She emphasised that unlocking the productive potential of Uganda’s youthful population is both an economic necessity and a pathway to long-term national prosperity.

The 2026 convention will focus on four key strategic objectives: analysing opportunities to harness the youth labour force as a driver of productivity and structural transformation; identifying and addressing policy and institutional barriers to decent work; promoting scalable solutions such as skills development, apprenticeships, digital skilling, and education-to-employment pathways; and strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships to expand decent employment and social protection.

Hon. Anyakun said the event will bring together Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, senior government officials, private sector leaders, heads of employers’ and workers’ organisations, development partners, and civil society actors.

Their engagement is expected to align national policy with practical solutions, showcase scalable innovations, and generate concrete commitments to enhance labour productivity, youth employment, and inclusive economic growth.

She also urged businesses, innovation-driven enterprises, training institutions, financial service providers, and development organisations to utilise the Expo platform to showcase initiatives that support job creation, skills development, and improved labour productivity.