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Uganda is ranked second among countries with the youngest population, with 78% of the population under the age of 30.

While the young population is a positive force for development when provided with knowledge, skills, and opportunities to participate, it also presents a high risk to the country’s quest to improve citizens’ livelihoods when excluded from development programs. 

Recent statistics, as captured in the UNDP Report 2023, highlight a concerning trend of limited engagement of this demographic that could have far-reaching consequences for the nation's livelihoods. 

Strong youth presence in programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyoga, Operation Wealth Creation, and Youth livelihood programmes (YLP) is key to Uganda's economic future.

However, recent statistics underscore a persistent challenge of unemployment among the youth. Studies have shown that more than three-quarters of the unemployed population in Uganda is young.

Under the PDM, the youths were allocated 30% of the revolving funds. This fund is to be accessed by youth in a subsistence economy for livelihood support, mainly in agriculture.

Commissioned in the early 2021/22 Financial Year, the parish revolving fund (PRF) money is to be accessed through PDM SACCOs at the parish level and payable within 24 months at an annual interest rate of 6%.

To many youths, this is an opportunity to access funds without collateral. Of the seven pillars of the PDM, youth are deliberately targeted only in the financial access pillar. However, youth voices are claiming the inaccessibility of this fund.

Further still, the youths have expressed mixed feelings about the PRF allocation, with some raising concerns that the 30% allocation is insufficient. Some youth voices have called for the youth allocation to be increased for the impact to be felt.

The broader challenge stems from persistent neglect of the youth in the planning and decision-making process. 

When youth are excluded in both rural and urban settings during the planning and execution of government programmes, it has significant implications for the country's livelihoods.

The lack of consultation with relevant stakeholders, despite their presumed concrete understanding of the issues affecting them from the local to the national level, is not primarily due to a lack of government commitment. 

This limited inclusion of youth in both rural and urban settings during the planning and execution of government programmes, poses significant implications for the country's livelihoods. For instance, in some instances, wrong identification of PRF beneficiaries has meant that even those who have received the money, cases of misappropriation are bound.

Why is this so? The youth are always not well equipped or skilled to receive and effectively utilise the funds for livelihood improvement. 

Limited inclusion of youth in PDM not only affects the individual youth but has a profound impact on the household’s and the country's livelihood.

Mitigating this multifaceted challenge requires a holistic approach that addresses various aspects of youth empowerment and inclusion within Uganda's development frameworks.

This entails making significant investments in education, vocational training, and job creation specifically tailored to address the unique needs and challenges encountered by young people. 

Fostering an environment conducive to youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship is paramount for driving sustainable economic growth and fostering social progress.

By prioritizing these initiatives and creating opportunities for youth participation and leadership, Uganda can unlock the potential of its youthful population as a driving force for positive change, paving the way for inclusive and sustainable development across the nation.

The writer is a research associate at EPRC, Makerere University