ISSUE 84 | JANUARY 2026
FUENEWS
THE VOICE OF EMPLOYERS
WORD FROM THE ED
Dear Esteemed Member,
In recent times, the world of work is evolving at a fast-paced rate with new and emerging trends transforming business operations as organisations grapple with hybrid working models, integration of Artificial Intelligence (A.I) tools, mental health awareness, re-skilling and up-skilling the workforce among other pertinent issues. For the modern Chief Executive Officer (CEO), leadership in 2026 is no longer defined merely by the management of assets but by the ability to navigate a “polycrisis” characterised by geopolitical fragmentation, an uneven artificial intelligence (AI) revolution and shifting societal expectations.
In a bid to enhance employer competitiveness, we convened the FUE-CEO Breakfast Meeting themed, ‘Leading Effectively in Tough Economic Times’. The meeting provides a platform for business leaders to share practical insights to navigate modern-day leadership challenges in the evolving labour market. The key takeaways for effective leadership in tough economic times included the ability to deal with complex situations, resilience and grit, mentorship and talent development, emotional intelligence and continuous learning among others. Collaboration and strategic partnerships were emphasised as key pillars to boost business growth and sustainable development at national level. We believe these high-level engagements are significant to support Employers learn, adopt and benchmark best business practices to excel in a volatile business climate.
Despite progress achieved in ending child labour, an estimated 138 million children are still affected globally which placed the world off track to meet SDG target 8.7 by 2025. In view of this, we participated in the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour that was held in Marrakech, Morocco. The conference brings together tripartite and social partners to accelerate collective action. The focus areas of discussion included scaling up digital tools, enforcing stricter supply chain due diligence, enhancing social protection, and integrating education with rural development to combat root causes. At the conference, the Global Framework for Action Against Child Labour that calls for stronger implementation of international labour standards, including the ILO Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) as well as better enforcement, strengthened institutions, social dialogue, and effective coordination was adopted. We call upon Employers to join the fight against child labour to protect the future workforce.
As a member-based organisation, we convene the Annual General Meeting to provide a comprehensive report of achievements throughout a given year. Save the Date for the FUE 47th Annual General Meeting slated for Wednesday, 18th March from 8:00 am (EAT) at Hotel Africana.
Thank you,
Mr. Douglas Opio
The Chief Executive Officer, FUE.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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THE FUE-CEO BREAKFAST MEETING
The FUE-CEO Breakfast Meeting was convened on Friday 20th February 2026 at Golden Tulip Hotel under the theme, ‘Leading Effectively in Tough Economic Times’. Business Leaders, CEOs and key industry players from various sectors of the economy were in attendance. The keynote speaker was Dr. David Molapo, the Founder, I Can Group International.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Douglas Opio in his remarks encouraged business leaders to apply the E.R.I.C model which stands for Eliminate, Reduce, Increase and Create for smooth work operations. He reiterated the need for CEOs in attendance to discover triggers of stress and deal with them immediately to eliminate mental health challenges, burn out and low productivity.
The keynote speaker, Dr. David Molapo shared a comprehensive presentation on Strategic Leadership and Institutional Governance: Navigating Global Volatility and Ugandan Economic Transformation in 2026. He emphasised key tenets for effective leaders such as integrity, focus, passion, embracing the fourth industrial revolution, mutual respect, collaboration and emotional intelligence to stay afloat in tough economic times. Dr. Molapo further encouraged leaders to adopt a human-centric approach to leadership to promote employee well-being and create a conducive work environment.
We are keen to support business leaders build robust entities, develop a resilient workforce and foster organisational development. Onwards and Upwards in strengthening the Employers fraternity!
THE 6TH GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON THE ELIMINATION OF CHILD LABOUR
As a key stakeholder on labour and employment matters, we participated in the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour on 11th to 13th February in Marrakech, Morocco. The conference brings together governments, international organisations, social partners, civil society, and the private sector in Marrakech to accelerate collective action. A decisive step was undertaken: strengthening commitments, mobilising resources, protecting the most vulnerable children, and building sustainable solutions built on education, social protection, rural development, and decent work.
At the conference, Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Douglas Opio was one of the panelists of the thematic session on, ‘Social Protection and the Transition to Formality to Eliminate Child Labour’. The key points of discussion included the role of the informal economy in accelerating child labour, the policies, measures and institutional conditions that have created an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises including micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to support formalisation, the extension of social protection coverage and the reduction of child labour.
Furthermore, the closing ceremony featured the adoption of the Global Framework for Action Against Child Labour. The framework recognises that child labour is both a cause and a consequence of poverty and is shaped by wider structural factors, including lack of decent work and gaps in protection and services.
FUE in partnership with the ILO, Government of Netherlands and other social partners is coordinating the ACCEL project to eliminate child labour in supply chains through sensitisation of Employers, conducting due diligence, collaboration with businesses in affected sectors and rewarding organisations that eliminate child labour in the Employer of the Year Awards (EYA).
Its expedient to note that ending child labour calls for integrated, multi-dimensional responses that link education, skills development, employment, and social protection to address root causes and scale up what works. Let’s make concerted efforts to protect children from exploitation and preserve the future workforce!
