By Byayesu Agrippa Musinguzi
(Young Democrat)
Generation Z in Uganda—those born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s—are not just passive observers of politics. They are vocal, connected, and watching. Raised in the age of smartphones and social media, they have turned platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, WhatsApp, and Facebook into powerful arenas of political expression.
And in recent weeks, one thing has become unmistakably clear: Gen Z is paying close attention.
Across these digital platforms, conversations are growing louder, bolder, and more deliberate. Hashtags are forming. Opinions are sharpening. At the centre of this rising momentum is Hon. Norbert Mao and his bid for Speaker of the 12th Parliament.
This is no longer just a parliamentary contest. It is becoming a generational moment.
“Hold your head high, stick your chest out. It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes. Don’t you surrender… Keep hope alive.” — Rev. Jesse Jackson
As Rev. Jesse Jackson urges us, hope must be kept alive even in difficult times. For a generation that has often felt excluded from real power, Mao’s candidature raises a vital question: Can it spark fresh hope and a new political imagination for Uganda’s Gen Z?
The Office That Shapes The Nation
The office of the Speaker, established under Article 82 of the 1995 Constitution, is not ceremonial. It is the heartbeat of Parliament. The Speaker chairs all sittings, enforces the Rules of Procedure, maintains order during debates, certifies bills, and represents the institution locally and internationally. The office also carries significant powers under Articles 94 and 95, including regulating legislative business and scheduling sittings. In extraordinary circumstances, the Speaker assumes presidential functions under Article 109(1).
For many young Ugandans, Parliament has long felt distant from their daily struggles with unemployment, education, and digital rights. But that perception is shifting. Gen Z is beginning to realise that the Speaker’s chair influences laws and oversight that directly affect their future.
The Lesson for Gen Z from Mao is that Power is not abstract — it is structured. Mao’s bold decision to contest this constitutionally powerful office teaches Gen Z the importance of understanding institutions deeply. Those who master the rules of the game are better positioned to transform them. Instead of dismissing Parliament, Gen Z must learn to engage it strategically.
History Is Watching — And So Is The Future
Uganda’s Speakership has journeyed through moments of dignity and decline. From Sir John Bowes Griffin, the first Speaker at independence in 1962, to Narendra M. Patel, Rebecca Kadaga who is Uganda’s first female Speaker, and to the current Speaker Anita Annet Among, the office has mirrored both the promise and contradictions of Uganda’s democracy.
Yet recent years have been clouded by serious corruption allegations, including the iron sheets scandal that drew international sanctions in 2024. For a generation that records everything digitally, history is no longer just in books — it lives in tweets, videos, and collective memory.
From the above, the Lesson for Gen Z from Hon Norbert Mao here is that, history is not only something to study — it is something to interrupt. By stepping forward at a time when the Speakership faces credibility challenges, Mao shows Gen Z that they must refuse to normalise corruption. This may be one of those rare moments when a new generation can help rewrite Uganda’s political story.
Breaking The Old Political Script
For decades, Ugandan politics has operated under an unspoken rule: the Speaker must come from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo, on NBS TV’s Frontline, reinforced this when he stated that Mao, being from the Democratic Party, “cannot realistically be Speaker… it is NRM.”
However, Mao’s engagement, including his invitation to the NRM Parliamentary Caucus retreat at Kyankwanzi on the President’s invitation as the President of Democratic Party, and Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs, poses a lot of questions, Does President Museveni recognize the DP NRM Cooperation Agreement? or It’s time Ugandans look at Uganda first that Political Parties and the Old Scripts that rather create a disunited Uganda. Mao is quietly challenging this old script. It further raises critical question: Can credibility, negotiation, and broader parliamentary confidence create space for a speaker beyond strict party lines?
To Genz, the Lesson Mao here is that, Change requires courage, not just from leaders, but from those who choose them. Mao’s willingness to engage strategically across political divides while remaining rooted in his principles teaches Gen Z that real transformation often demands smart alliances and persistence, not just protest or withdrawal.
A Candidature That Has Sparked A Movement
Norbert Mao is no newcomer. From his days as Makerere University Guild President in 1990, two-term MP for Gulu Municipality (1996–2006) where he voluntarily stepped down after self-imposed term limits, to Chairman of Gulu District during post-conflict recovery, his career reflects consistency, resilience, and commitment to constitutionalism.
What stands out now is not just his experience, but the organic response his bid is generating among Gen Z. On X, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Facebook, young voices are amplifying the conversation through memes, debates, videos, and campaigns — creating a new, decentralised form of political participation.
Gen Z need to learn from Mao that, your voice matters but your persistence matters more. Mao’s journey from student leader to national contender proves that influence is built through sustained engagement and credibility. Gen Z should learn that real power comes from consistency and courage, not fleeting online noise.
Conclusion: A Moment Of Decision
This is no longer just about Norbert Mao. It is about what Uganda’s Parliament chooses to represent at this critical moment in its history.
Members of Parliament now stand at a crossroads. They can rise to champion a new direction that responds to the energy, frustration, and aspirations of a younger generation — or reinforce a system many increasingly view as resistant to change.
As Rev. Jesse Jackson reminds us, the morning comes — but only for those who refuse to surrender. Gen Z is watching, recording, and ready to hold leaders accountable.
When Uganda stood at the threshold of change, what choice will be made? The answer may define the future not just of the Speakership, but of the nation itself.
