From the foundation
Start early
Habits that shape a career form in primary school, so the 8th edition includes primary pupils, with their parents and teachers.
8th National Career Guidance Day
Arise and Align
Building Wealthy Mindsets from the Foundation. Saturday 20 March 2027, Kololo Independence Grounds, Kampala.
8th National Career Guidance Day
Arise and Align
Building Wealthy Mindsets from the Foundation
- Saturday 20 March 2027
- 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Kololo Independence Grounds, Kampala
--Days
--Hours
--Mins
--Secs
Until the gates open at Kololo
Register now
UGX 20,000 covers meals on the day and your attendance certificate. Registration takes about two minutes on The Collar360, the sponsor and official digital partner of the Day.
About the 8th edition
“Rise to your potential. Find the career path that fits you, and connect with the industries and institutions that build the skills to get there.”
Arise and Align calls on every young person to rise to their potential and set a clear course for their future. At the 8th National Career Guidance Day, students, graduates, teachers and parents discover the careers that suit them, meet the industries and institutions that open the way, and learn the skills each path needs, so that talent, training and work point in the same direction.
Organised by Incredible Youth International in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports. The Collar360 is the sponsor and official digital partner, handling registration, tickets, check-in and certificates.
The theme
What Arise and Align means
The theme has four parts, and each one shapes part of the programme.
Arise
Know your abilities
Learners find out what they are good at and what they enjoy, and take it seriously, whatever their background.
Align
Match them to real options
Subjects lead to courses and courses lead to careers. Learners see these links and the skills employers ask for.
Wealthy mindsets
Money and enterprise
Earning, saving, budgeting, investing and starting a business, explained at the right level for each age.
In short, the 8th edition helps learners understand their abilities, choose subjects and careers that suit them, and learn to manage money, starting in primary school.
Why it matters
Most of today’s learners will enter work in the next twenty years
Many leave school without clear information about careers, the skills employers look for, or basic money habits. Career guidance in school helps with all three.
- Source: UBOS, National Population and Housing Census 2024
- people counted in Uganda’s 2024 census
- 45.9M
- Source: UBOS, International Youth Day 2025
- of Ugandans are aged 30 or younger
- 73%
- Source: UBOS, International Youth Day 2025
- of young people aged 18 to 30 are not in employment, education or training
- 50.9%
- Source: FinScope Uganda 2023
- Ugandan adults have no concrete long-term financial plans
- 7 in 10
The programme
From primary school to work
The programme is planned in four stages, one for each age group, so every learner leaves with a next step.
- 1
Discover
Primary, ages 10 to 12
Games and activities on teamwork and responsibility, and a first look at the jobs people do.
- 2
Choose
Secondary, ages 13 to 18
Help with subject choices, problem-solving challenges, and time with people working in different fields.
- 3
Prepare
Tertiary, ages 19 to 25
The skills employers look for, enterprise, and advice on moving from study into work or business.
- 4
Earn
Work and enterprise
Mentoring, and practical advice on saving, investing and running a business.
Parents and teachers: there are sessions for teachers and career counsellors, and advice for parents on supporting their children’s choices.
New for 2027
Learning tracks by age
The morning is a shared session for everyone. From midday, learners split into tracks for their age group. A partner can sponsor a track, name it and send staff to run sessions.
Primary learners, ages 10 to 12
Discover and Create
A skills game on creativity, responsibility and teamwork, with the Junior Mobility Fun Arena for learning through play.
Secondary students, ages 13 to 18
Skills and Innovation Challenge
Teams work on a real problem and present their solution to a panel of judges.
University and tertiary, ages 19 to 25
Innovation Lab
A hands-on workshop and an Entrepreneurship and Future Skills Seminar on ventures and employable skills.
All groups
Safety First
Digital citizenship, wellbeing and staying safe online and offline.
On the grounds
Seven zones to explore
The opening, keynotes and panels take place at the covered grandstand. From midday, learners move around the zones. Each zone can be sponsored by a partner.
Career Expo
Universities, vocational institutions and employers explain the courses and jobs they offer.
Talent Stage
Learners perform music, dance and drama.
Enterprise Market
Young people and small businesses show and sell what they make.
Mentorship Corner
Professionals meet learners one to one.
Money MattersNew
Practical sessions on saving, budgeting and starting a business.
Challenge Arena
Secondary school teams present their solutions.
Culture and Celebration
Music, dance and marching bands.
Saturday 20 March 2027
The day, hour by hour
This order of events is indicative. The final programme will be shared before the Day.
Find Kololo Independence Grounds07:00
Gates open
Schools and guests arrive; tickets are scanned at the gate.
08:00
Processions and performances
Marching bands, choirs and cultural troupes open the grounds.
09:30
Official opening
Anthems and a welcome by the President of Incredible Youth International.
10:00
Keynote addresses
Guest speakers on the theme, Arise and Align.
11:00
High-level panel
Government, industry and young leaders on aligning learning, skills and work.
12:00
Tracks and zones open
Age-based tracks, the Career Expo and the activation zones.
13:00
Lunch
For all registered participants.
14:00
Challenges and clinics
Skills and Innovation Challenge, Innovation Lab, mentorship and Money Matters.
15:30
Awards and closing
Challenge winners recognised; closing remarks by the Chief Guest.
17:00
Close
Schools depart.
Who will attend
More than 50,000 learners and young people
Schools travel to Kampala from across the country, with parents, teachers, institutions, employers, government and media.
- Primary learnersages 10 to 12
- 15,000
- Secondary studentsages 13 to 18
- 25,000
- University and tertiary studentsages 19 to 25
- 10,000
- Educators, institution leaders and policymakers
- 500+
Speakers confirmed so far
Learn from people who built something
More keynote speakers and panellists from government, industry and the youth will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
United Kingdom
Louise Hill
Co-founder, GoHenry
- Built GoHenry, the money app teaching children and teenagers to earn, save and spend wisely, used by over 2 million young people in the UK, US and Europe
- City of London Entrepreneur of the Year 2024
- Expert judge on BBC’s The Apprentice, 2025
Estonia
Martin Villig
Co-founder, Bolt
- Co-founded Bolt in 2013; it now operates in over 50 countries, Kampala included
- An early engineer at Skype, employee number 60
- Order of the White Star from the President of Estonia, 2019
Uganda
James Brian Ntwatwa
President and Founder, IYI · Host
- Founded Incredible Youth International in 2007, now a network in more than 70 countries
- Led the advocacy that established 20 March as the National Career Guidance Day
- Has organised every edition with the Ministry of Education and Sports
How to register
Register in about two minutes
- 1
Register
Online or in The Collar360 app, with Google or an email address. It takes about two minutes.
- 2
Bring the class
Teachers register a whole class at once, up to 200 learners, with one payment.
- 3
Pay by mobile money
UGX 20,000 covers meals and the certificate.
- 4
Arrive with a QR code
Each ticket has a QR code, scanned at the gate.
- 5
Get your certificate
Issued after the Day, with a QR code to verify it.
For schools
Register a class by pasting the student list, pay once, print every ticket, and check the class in together.
After the Day
Each registration comes with a free Collar360 account, where learners keep their certificate and can look up careers, courses and opportunities.
Questions and answers
Before you come
Who can attend?
Secondary school and university students, recent graduates, teachers and career counsellors, parents and guardians, and anyone planning their career. In 2027 there are also activities for primary pupils aged 10 to 12.
What does the fee cover?
UGX 20,000 covers meals on the day and your attendance certificate.
How do I pay?
By mobile money to the number shown when you register, using your registration number as the reference. Once the organisers confirm your payment, you receive a receipt by email.
Can a teacher register a whole class?
Yes. Teachers can register a class of up to 200 learners with one payment, print every ticket and check the class in together.
How do I get in on the day?
Show the QR code from your confirmation email, or from your registration page, at the entrance.
When do I get my certificate?
After the event, for everyone who paid for it and attended. It is sent by email and can be downloaded from your registration page.
Since 2020
Every edition so far
Following IYI’s advocacy, the Ministry of Education and Sports set aside 20 March as the National Career Guidance Day. Each edition has its own theme.
2019
A national day
Following IYI’s advocacy, the Ministry of Education and Sports sets aside 20 March as the National Career Guidance Day.
2020
1st edition
Preparing students with soft skills to become the competent global workforce.
2021
2nd edition
Recover and Revitalize Career Guidance for the COVID-19 Generation.
2023
4th edition
The Mindset Revolution.
2026
7th edition
The Future of Work: Surviving in the AI Era.
2027
8th edition
Arise and Align: Building Wealthy Mindsets from the Foundation.
Partners
Put your organisation in front of 50,000 learners
Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze packages, plus exhibition space, track and zone sponsorship, in-kind and media partnerships.