A Critical Analysis of Youth Unemployment: Its Effects on Community Peace and Security in Lira City

The study aimed at assessing the impact of youth unemployment on peace and security in Lira City, with specific objectives to investigate the effects of youth unemployment on social stability; examine the relationship between youth unemployment and capital offenses; determine the relationship between youth unemployment and minor offenses; and to propose the practical measures to reduce youth unemployment in Lira City. Although it adopted a descriptive design, the study mainly used a desk research method, and documentary reviews especially those given by relevant authorities such as the Uganda Police Force, and community departments of the two City Divisions, namely Lira City West and Lira City East from 2022 to 2024. The study findings reveal that youth unemployment negatively affects social stability mostly through acts of Gender Based Violence in Lira City East Division (52.9%), acts of prostitution in Lira Metropolitan Area (75.9), and Way-laying (59.9%) in Lira City West; that youth in Lira City West (65.1%) and Lira Metropolitan Areas (63.4%) were involved in acts of aggravated robberies but youth in Lira City East (64.9%) were involved in defilement; that of the 1,719 minor cases recorded in 2022-2024, Lira Metropolitan Areas Zone (36.2%) had more cases, than Lira City East Zone (33.6%) and Lira City West (30.2%); and that major cases in Lira City East and Lira Metropolitan Areas were simple robberies (60.8%) and 326 (52.3%), respectively, and theft cases from Lira City West (56.4%); and that skill trainings, change of attitudes by youth, and creation of job-network-platform can be effective in addressing youth unemployment. The study concludes that youth unemployment negatively affects social stability of homes and society at large; has a positive relationship with capital offenses especially aggravated robbery, but not with defilement and murder; has a positive relationship with minor offenses; and that youth unemployment in Lira City can be addressed through several interventions but not a single intervention. The study recommends that youth should be empowered through training on life skill-jobs; that special funds should be considered for the youth in Lira City; and that awareness creation for the youth through programmes such as patriotism campaigns should be scaled-up in Lira City. Further studies can be considered on the social and economic strategies to stop the recruitment of youth into rebel activities