By Kabuye Ronald
Jacob Eyeru, Chairperson of the National Youth Council, has raised a red flag over the increasing commercialization of elections particularly youth elections- warning that the trend poses a serious threat to effective service delivery in public offices.
Speaking during the launch of the National Youth Manifesto 2026–2031, held at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Friday, Eyeru noted that elected leaders who attain office through vote-buying often prioritize recovering their campaign expenses over addressing the actual needs of the people they serve.
“Campaign financing is spoiling youth elections,” Eyeru said. “If a candidate needs UGX 200,000 per voter, with 3,000 voters, that’s UGX 600 million, before even factoring in accommodation, meals, and transport for three days in Kampala. If someone goes through such a process, it becomes nearly impossible to hold them accountable.”
He called upon President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to take urgent action by ensuring that political parties particularly during internal elections like the recently concluded NRM CEC elections- should fully facilitate delegates. This, Eyeru said, would reduce vote buying and level the playing field for all candidates.
“I am grateful to the brilliant young people who came together to develop this comprehensive National Youth Manifesto. I commit to working with the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to present this manifesto to the President during the upcoming National Youth Day celebrations next month,” Eyeru added.
Mondo Kyateeka, Commissioner for Youth and Children Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, commended the initiative and pledged government support.
“When it comes to youth affairs, Uganda is a star performer in terms of participation. I remember when the idea of youth representation in Parliament was seen as impossible. But today, through youth councils, many leaders have been nurtured. Several of them were elected to the NRM CEC in the recent elections,” Kyateeka noted.
Elizabeth Ongom, a representative from the European Union, reiterated the EU’s continued support for youth empowerment initiatives in Uganda, noting their past involvement in numerous youth-focused campaigns and programs.
In his opening remarks, Wakibu Bunnya, Founder and Team Leader of Open Space Uganda, emphasized the importance of the manifesto as a tool for youth advocacy.
“The launch of the National Youth Manifesto is a call to action for young people to hold leaders accountable and demand governance that reflects the priorities of the digital generation,” Bunnya stated. “This document is by the youth, for the youth, a genuine reflection of their voices, aspirations, and vision for the future.”
The manifesto was developed through inclusive and participatory platforms such as U-Report, political party youth leagues, sports leaders, climate change programs, national validation meetings, and online data collection tools.
Kampala registered the highest number of participants, while Nabilatuk had the lowest. Most contributors were aged between 20 and 24 years.
The National Youth Manifesto 2026–2031 focuses on critical areas affecting youth, including: Education, Employment, Health, Climate Resilience, Governance and Social Justice
It calls for transformative leadership that places young people at the center of national priorities.
The event attracted wide participation from youth wings of various political parties, civil society organizations such as Open Space Centre African Development Link, Show Abilities Uganda, Young Farmers Federation Uganda, and Youth Empowerment and Participation in Policy and Development.
