Africa-Press – Uganda. National Resistance Movement (NRM) youth leaders have urged the government to create an independent ministry for youth, arguing that young people, who make up the largest demographic in Uganda, have long been under-prioritized.
Speaking to the media while declaring her interest to contest for the female Youth Member of Parliament seat in 2026, Gold Ikyiriza highlighted the urgent challenges facing young Ugandans.
“We are very challenged with high levels of unemployment whereby over 64 percent of the youth under 30 years of age are unemployed,” Ikyiriza said.
She also raised concerns about the alarming poverty rates nationwide, attributing the issue partly to the low representation of youth in decision-making processes.
“In decision making, we have low youth representation, yet it is the youth who should be involved in deciding what should be done for them,” she noted.
Ikyiriza emphasized the important role elected youth leaders in the National Youth Council have from village to national level, noting that they will be accountable in the coming years.
She further explained that historically, youth have lacked leaders who truly advocate for their interests, a gap she hopes to fill by contesting in the upcoming elections.
“We understand our challenges as youth, and it is upon us to solve them through the right initiatives and government programs,” she added.
Highlighting the demographic weight of Uganda’s youth, Ikyiriza stressed the need for a dedicated ministry to address their specific needs.
“We have leaders capable of improving the wellbeing of youth, but we need to give them the mandate to do so through an independent ministry,” she said.
She also called on young people to hold their leaders accountable and transparent, stating that she aims to unite youth under leadership ready to answer to them.
Luzinda Henry, Chairman of Youth Leadership from Wakiso District, supported the call for a youth ministry, arguing that it is time to plan for the country’s future leaders.
“Having the biggest population as youth means we are the next leaders of the country, and this can only be implemented if we have an independent ministry for youth. Currently, youth affairs fall under the Gender Ministry, which handles multiple issues,” he said.
Luzinda added that youth unity is crucial for their concerns to be heard and addressed by the president but emphasized the need for strong leadership.
“We need a minister within our age range who understands our challenges firsthand. Many MPs above our age group struggle to address youth issues effectively,” he explained.
The youth leaders’ call reflects growing demands for more focused government structures to tackle unemployment, poverty, and underrepresentation among Uganda’s youthful population.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
