Many young people pursue political ambitions but they have no clue what their roles and responsibilities are. Last week, DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevolkerung), an NGO operating in Uganda, held awareness events aimed at enhancing democratic governance and youth participation under its youth empowerment services.
Through these interactions, we observed that most of the young people did not know their leaders (youth councillors) and lacked knowledge about their civic rights. In most of the sub-counties we visited in Busia, the youth councillors had limited knowledge about their duties and those who are knowledgeable are intimidated by the elders. They, therefore, find it difficult to freely express their views.
In addition, some of the youth councillors deserted their positions for other opportunities while some positions are vacant because no candidate contested for them. Others have no female youth councillors. These positions should be filled through by-elections.
The National Youth Council Statute (1993) provides for two youth councillors at the district and sub-county levels (one female and one male). It also establishes youth council structures from the village to the national level with two youth councillors (one male and one female) in each district and sub-country council. However, these mechanisms for youth participation are not functional, especially at the lower levels where there are limited technical and logistical capacities amongst youth leaders.
The district leadership, including those at the lower levels – sub-county and village – should involve the youth in planning and budgeting processes so that they are able to actively participate in governance issues. DSW has opened opportunities for youth to participate in decision-making and governance in their villages through facilitating youth clubs, training in civic education and life skills, among others, with the main aim of increasing their participation in local governance.
The National Youth Council should also carry out continuous capacity building for councillors, especially those at grassroots level to enable them know their roles and responsibilities; how they can actively involve others, and interpret and disseminate the laws into local language in order to promote access to information
