Youth develop manifesto ahead of 2016 polls

By Henry Sekanjako

AS the 2016 general elections are fast approaching, youth under the umbrella body Youth Coalition on Electoral Democracy in Uganda, have developed a joint national youth manifesto with a call for reflection of their demands in the party manifestos and programs of the next government to be elected.

According to the 21-page document, the youth listed four thematic areas as key priority issues affecting the youth in Uganda. The issues included jobs, health care for all, education opportunities, sports and culture as well as youth participation in decision making.

The youth explained that the challenges presented by underemployment are huge but there are opportunities both to divert youth from anti-social into productive behaviors, thus avoiding social unrest, to harness the youth population and to drive economic development.

The National Vision 2040 predicts improvements in employment levels and labour markets conditions through a mix of measures that include implementation of the national employment policy as well as other laws, policies and guidelines on labour productivity and employment.

“We demand an enabling law and policy environment to facilitate job creation, skills development and enterprise opportunities for young Ugandans,” read the document.

In their manifesto which was developed with support from the Uganda Youth Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs (UPFYA), the youth want a reserve of at least 40% of public procurement contracts for youth-led businesses that employ the youth.

They also want the next government to institute mechanisms to encourage youth involvement in the agricultural sector across the value chain by promoting the establishment of youth cooperatives and availing public land to youth.

“We urge the government and all actors to take issues of youth participation seriously. We should have more programs that target youth involvement, because they are the majority,” said Kenneth Nkumiro, the coordinator UPFYA.

Nkumiro expressed optimism that the youth manifesto will help in guiding the government which key youth programs can be paid attention to.

About health, the youth in their manifesto want increased availability, access to and uptake of quality and affordable health care services for young people.

They noted that the National Health Policy and National Adolescent Health Policy as well as the adolescent health standards and guidelines provide an avenue for provision of youth–friendly sexual and reproductive health services.

The youth added that the ongoing review of the Health Sector Development Plan 2015/2016-2019/2020 provides an equally wonderful opportunity for young people to influence government financing for adolescent and youth–friendly health services.

“The government should expedite the passing of the National Health Insurance Bill which will provide universal and affordable health care for all,” the youth demanded in their manifesto.

On education, the youth want the government to develop a skilled, talented and competitive workforce through access to quality education.

According to the youth, the ongoing curriculum review can provide opportunities for further research and inventions that can make education more productive.

The youth want the government to enhance free skills training opportunities through UPPET and BTVET, which provide an opportunity for creating new vocational centers and utilizing the available community polytechnics.

Regarding the sports and creative arts aspect, the youth in their manifesto want the next government to enhance talent identification and development as a means of stimulating social and economic wellbeing of young people.

The youth want the government to establish community sports recreation centers to harness talent, and also to review the structure of major sports in consultation with key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan of action to revitalize the sector.

In their manifesto, the youth also expressed concern over lack of participation by the youth in decision making on key youth programs.

According to the youth, the government should ensure that youth actively and meaningfully participate in the development, implementation and monitoring of government policies and programs.

"The youth are a key constituency now, we should consider them in all aspects that concern the youth,” said Monica Amonding, the chairperson Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs.