By Jumah Kakomo
The opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has urged the government to continue prioritizing youth development whose numbers have increased significantly.
Last Thursday, 27th June 2024, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) released preliminary census results which indicate an increase of 11.3 million people. The overall population stands at 45,935,046 million with 23,440,016 females and 22,495,030 males. However, the youthful population below 17 years stands at 50.5 % and youths between 18-30 years make up 22.7%.
Speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday, the spokesperson Arach Oyat Sharon highlighted the challenges faced by young people, including limited job opportunities, inadequate access to education, and poor healthcare among others. While acknowledging government initiatives aimed at empowering youth, such as vocational training programs and entrepreneurship funds, she called for more to be done to address the scale of the challenge.
“The government must address these issues to ensure a brighter future for our young people,” she emphasized.
The UPC spokesperson called for increased investment in education, job creation, and healthcare, tailored to the specific needs of young people. “By prioritizing the youth, we can unlock their potential and build a prosperous future for Uganda,” Arach Oyat concluded.
She said UPC is fully aware that most of the developing countries are facing what is known as the “youth bulge” which brings to the fore the challenges of the youth question. “The common effects that unfold along the way include; the presence of so many idle and unemployed youthful population in both urban and rural areas, increased pressure on scarce resources and land which is a key factor in production is increasingly becoming a scarce resource thus leading to violent land conflicts.”
According to Sharon, the recently released population census results allude that Uganda is experiencing a rapidly growing young population, which population continues to seek help from parents, relatives and guardians or even friends in the wake of high levels of unemployment in the country and the struggling economy. This type of life is a recipe for desperation and danger for the society if not well handled.
“This immediately demands for proper planning and a rapid response to our economic growth and development, which do not only call for increased production of goods and services, but also ensure quality education services as well as equitable access to opportunities to our young people. This will guarantee a firm foundation for the future of the ever-growing youthful population,” Sharon said.
Regarding the extension of LCI and III elections council elections, the party head of media and communications Faizo Muzeyi expressed concerns over the repeated delays, citing a lack of preparedness and disregard for democratic principles. He emphasized the need for a swift conclusion to the election process to ensure democratic representation and avoid further uncertainty and disillusionment among the electorate.”
Muzeyi criticizes the repeated delays, which he believed were aimed at maintaining the status quo and perpetuating the ruling party’s grip on power. “The people are being denied their right to choose their leaders, and this is unacceptable,” he emphasized.
“The government must take responsibility for its failures and respect the democratic process,” Muzeyi Faizo urged.
The UPC head of media and communications calls for a swift conclusion to the election process, ensuring that the people’s voices are heard and their representatives elected. “Anything less would be a betrayal of democracy and the trust placed in our institutions,” she concluded.
The government again extended the term of office of administrative unit councils (LC 1 and II) for another one hundred eighty days (180) starting from 4th July 2024, by the Minister of Local Government following the second extension which expired on 3rd July 2024.
“This is a regrettable experience which undermines the development of our young democracy and a deliberate effort to deny the citizens of Uganda the right to elect their leaders. UPC has always noted that there is lack of goodwill by the Government to hold the LC 1 and II elections as well as women councils. If the government had goodwill to conduct these local council elections, it wouldn’t have extended at a time when the budget has just been read. UPC therefore calls on the government to prioritize the local government elections and resources should be allocated to that effect,” Muzeyi stated.
