Kekubo Trading Centre: Where youth queue for employment

In many trading centres, it is common to find idle youth playing cards, ludo, gambling, or engaging in gossip. However, at Kekubo Trading Centre in Kabale Municipality, the scene is different. More than 100 unemployed individuals, mostly youth, gather as early as 7:30am each day, hoping to be hired for casual jobs.

Kekubo Trading Centre is located at the boundary of Kirigime and Nyabikoni wards in Kabale Municipality. Nyabikoni Ward falls within the Central Division, while Kirigime Ward is part of the Southern Division of Kabale Municipality in Kabale District.

According to team leaders Herbert Kateba, Dickson Arineitwe, and Ronald Twinomujuni, the Kekubo labour market was established in 1992. Initially, only a few school dropouts gathered, waiting for work opportunities.

“Today, the number of job seekers has grown from around five in 1992 to about 100 daily. Most are youth, though a few older people, aged 40 to 60, also join in from neighbouring areas such as Kitumba Sub-County and the Central, Southern, and Northern Divisions of Kabale Municipality,” Mr Kateba said.

The job seekers are a mix of skilled and casual labourers. Skilled workers include bricklayers, carpenters, painters, and molders. Skilled labourers earn between Shs25,000 and Shs40,000 per day, depending on the complexity of the work, while casual labourers earn Shs15,000 per day.

Challenges faced

Building managers are their primary clients. However, the job seekers sometimes wait all day in vain. They also face numerous challenges, such as delayed or non-payment by employers.

A lack of protective gear is another major issue. Many workers sustain injuries as they handle stones and bricks with their bare hands.

Their employers do not foot the bill for injuries incurred during the course of their duties, forcing them to bare the burden.

“We are planning to form an association where all members of this labour market will be registered, and an executive committee will ensure protection from exploitation,” Mr Arineitwe said.

The proposed association aims to eliminate wrongdoers, such as thieves and masqueraders, and register officially with the Kabale Municipal Council to access government programmes such as Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Fund, and the Parish Development Model, all aimed at poverty alleviation.

Women and skill development

Unlike the men, the women job seekers have exchanged contact information and are usually hired on demand.

The leadership also emphasises skill development. Many labourers have transitioned from casual to skilled work after learning from experienced technicians on the job.

“This labour market has not only provided employment opportunities but also equipped us with technical skills. Some of us, who started as casual labourers, are now skilled workers,” Mr Kateba said.

Employers such as Gerald Mukasa, James Mwijuka, Robinah Tiwangye and Bonita Nyinomujini praised Kekubo labour market.

“The workers are affordable, efficient, and effective. However, casual labourers sometimes mismanage building materials if unsupervised. An association could help improve employee-employer relationships and streamline operations,” Ms Nyinomujini noted.

Ms Tiwangye also highlighted that the workers’ familiarity with quality building materials—such as bricks, sand, and aggregates—makes them valuable assets.

Government support

The Kabale Municipal Council Principal Community Development Officer, Mr Emmanuel Niwagaba, said plans are underway to organise Kekubo labour market members into groups and associations.

This would enable them to benefit from government poverty alleviation programmes and vocational training at the zonal industrial hub in Kamuganguzi Sub-county.

“I will work with my office’s technocrats to encourage these workers to form groups, ensuring they access government initiatives aimed at improving household incomes,” he said.

Poverty rate 

At a recent Bishop’s Annual Appeal Funds (BAAF) event for Kabale Diocese, the state minister for finance (General Duties), Mr Henry Musasizi, said poverty levels in the Kigezi Sub-region stand at 27 percent, above the national average of 20 percent. He called on religious leaders to support government poverty alleviation efforts.