BrighterMonday Uganda, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has held its inaugural career fair in Gulu, bringing together more than 1,000 job seekers and 59 employers in a bid to address youth unemployment and bridge the skills gap in Northern Uganda.
The event, held under the theme Matching Ambition with Opportunity, comes at a time when Uganda’s labour market is increasingly shifting toward a skills-based hiring model. Stakeholders at the fair noted that while the region has a growing pool of young talent, many job seekers remain disconnected from current employer expectations.
Data shared during the engagement indicates that a majority of employers are placing greater emphasis on soft skills such as adaptability, communication, and emotional intelligence, often ahead of formal academic qualifications. Organisers said hosting the fair in Gulu was a deliberate effort to decentralise access to employment opportunities and bring recruitment services closer to underserved regions.
Local leaders and academic representatives who attended the event underscored the importance of aligning education with market needs. LC3 Vice Chairperson Atim Vickie called on young people to prioritise skills development, describing practical competence as critical to navigating today’s job market.
Keynote speaker Ojok Walter, founder of House of Ojok, urged participants to take initiative in their career journeys, encouraging them to leverage available resources and remain prepared for emerging opportunities.
Unlike conventional career fairs, the Gulu event incorporated real-time job matching, with employers conducting on-site interviews. Several attendees reportedly secured immediate job offers, highlighting a more direct and efficient recruitment approach.
The fair also featured a demonstration of an AI-powered career assistant designed to support job seekers in optimising CVs, preparing for interviews, and improving overall employability. Organisers said the tool is intended to help young people better navigate a competitive and evolving labour market.
The initiative forms part of the broader Gen-Kazi programme, a collaboration between BrighterMonday Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation, which focuses on equipping youth with practical skills and supporting access to dignified employment.
