Over 400 Professionals Convene for Landmark "Talent Without Limit" Career Fair in Kampala

The grounds of the Uganda School for the Deaf came alive as more than 400 job seekers and 28 employers gathered for the inaugural Talent Without Limit Career Fair, an initiative aimed at advancing inclusive employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Organized by BrighterMonday Uganda in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the event was held under the Gen-Kazi Programme in collaboration with Light for the World, NUDIPU and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

The career fair sought to bridge the gap between qualified professionals with disabilities and employers increasingly embracing workplace diversity and inclusion.

The initiative comes amid growing concern over unemployment levels among persons with disabilities in Uganda and across Africa.

Various labour market studies indicate that persons with disabilities are significantly more likely to be unemployed compared to their peers without disabilities, while economists estimate that excluding people with disabilities from the workforce costs African economies billions in lost productivity annually.

By bringing employers and job seekers together in one space, organizers said the fair aimed to address long-standing barriers that often limit access to employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

The Program Manager of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Ms. Namukasa Lilian, noted that in partnership with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), ICT Hubs for Persons with Disabilities have been established across different regions of the country.

She encouraged persons with disabilities to take advantage of these facilities to enhance their digital and professional skills. She further urged them to visit the hubs, access internet services for innovation, research, learning, and development, and share this information with their colleagues and peers so that more persons with disabilities can benefit from the opportunities available.

"These ICT hubs are intended to empower persons with disabilities through digital inclusion, skills development, innovation, and access to information. We encourage everyone to utilize them fully and spread awareness within their communities," she emphasized.