While graduating participants, following a series of trainings in business and hospitality, last week, Uganda Breweries (UBL) officials have said that, emphasis was put on women and persons with disabilities to fight income inequality.

Miriam Busingye, the Public Relations Executive Officer of Uganda Breweries Learning for Life program, said in a press statement that the skills attained by over 200 youths are intended to increase their chances of employment opportunities in the hospitality industry in order to improve their livelihoods.

Miriam Busingye added that over 50% of women and 10% of persons with disabilities (PWDs) have already benefited in acquiring skills from the program.

“Among the 200 in this year’s intake, 50% were women and 10% were persons with disabilities,” the statement read in part.

Busingye noted that the UBL’s Learning for Life program’s main focus is on women and PWDs due to the prevailing income inequality burden. In partnership with Diageo Bar Academy, Light for the World, and Enterprise Uganda, poverty levels faced by the minority group in society that result from limitations in acquiring employment will be phased out.

Andrew Kilonzo, the Managing Director of Uganda Breweries, said that the company came up with programs to skill the youth because the country is facing unemployment challenges.

He said that the program will address youth unemployment challenges.

“Youth unemployment in Uganda currently stands between 64% and 70%. About 30% of the youths who are institutionally qualified in Uganda are unable to find jobs, this situation is worse for semiskilled and unskilled youths,” Kilonzo said.

Kilonzo said that approximately 400,000 young Ugandans come into the job market every year to compete for approximately 52,000 available formal jobs. The Managing Director said that, as UBL, they are striving to equip youths with marketable skills to prepare them to transition into employment or business.