The eastern shores of Lake Albert, in Uganda, have become the focus of newfound attention given recent oil prospecting in the area. The national media have reported on the dissatisfaction of youth regarding both compensation for their land and in terms of opportunities for training and employment. This article shows how the “youth” category has been politically instrumentalized and how processes for empowering youth have been transformed by the prospect of economic renewal. Despite expectations, most actual opportunities are a product of overall growth in the region rather than a result of the oil industry.