“Never before have the youths been able to participate in the electoral process likeBO today,” said Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the opposition Member of Parliament for Kyadondo East.
He was on August 18th, 2020 commenting on the youth elections held on August 17th 2020 during a news hour on NTV. It is a known fact that the youths world over and in Uganda are either in school, seeking jobs, employed or unemployed with the high unemployment rate leading to social exclusion that may result into social unrest, instability, and increased crime.
The People Power pressure group that culminated into the National
Unity Platform (NUP) has aggravated this situation by not telling the youths on what to do in order to earn some money but only telling them “Twebelelemu” meaning the youths should get involved violent politics only to change the political landscape in Uganda that benefits politicians in the NUP. Even when NUP politicians are addressing the gatherings, they don’t reveal any substantial programme they have for the youths if elected in power.
This leaves the youths as misguided missiles hence the social unrest and violence we have started experiencing as a country in the electoral process. What is important to note is that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government is not just looking on as the future of Uganda that entirely depends on the youths is being exploited by opportunist politicians for their own benefit.
Hon Kyagulanyi, needs to be informed that the youths are reaping from the peace and tranquility which was ushered in by the NRM government.
While commissioning six roads in Masaka municipality in July last year, the Fountain of Honour, President Yoweri Museveni said that Uganda is reaping from the peace and stability that has been in place for the last 3 decades premised on the unity among Ugandans under the National Resistance Movement.
The youths, therefore, were able to fully participate in the elections because of the peace, tranquility, and other development programs and projects like the Electoral Commission established by the NRM.
It is important to note that currently under the NRM, the youth among other projects are becoming more and more interested in agriculture which is the backbone of our country. A majority has already started their own farm business and now seeks to diversify their income by exploring additional income opportunities. Several youths now offer agricultural services to their fellow community members, such as pruning coffee trees—a skill they learned in the Youth Farmer Field Schools.
Many others have also become active in their local farmer organization and are advocates for greater inclusion of youth perspectives in their communities’ development.
We, therefore, need to safeguard all the unity and all the achievements it has come with in the last three decades and be sure that
