MUK political science don wants maturity age reduced to 16

Dr. Ssimba Sallie Kayunga, a political science lecturer at Makerere University during the National Youth Council consultative meeting at Royal Suite on March 22, 2017. Photo by Mary Kansiime

Dr. Ssimba Sallie Kayunga, a political science lecturer at Makerere University has said that there is need for the maturity age to be reduced from 18 to 16 years to allow the youths take part in the political decisions of the country.

"The maturity age should be reduced to 16. I believe at that age, a youth can make independent political decisions such as voting," he said.

Kayunga said that at 16, young people are able to make decisions that can influence the country's political course, even better than those older than them, adding that at that age most young people have completed 'O' level.

Giving an example of one of the highly rated British Politicians, William Pitt who became a prime minister at the age of 24 in 1783, Kayunga, said that there is no reason why youths younger 35 years in Uganda should not be allowed to aspire for the presidency of the country.

Pitt was ranked the best performing prime minister and Kayunga still believes that his record remains unchallenged to date.

"There is no proof, reasonable enough for a person younger than 35 not to contest for presidency. That constitutional mandate should be challenged and changed to allow more youths contest for that political office," he said.

Speaking to the New Vision, the political science head of department at Makerere University, Prof. Nansozi Muwanga said that though the youths have a lot of potential, society has been so unfair to them and treats them like primary one kids.

"We have not given them space to breathe and think. The education system makes it worse; it does not allow their mind to breath. If given that opportunity to realize their potential by changing the curriculum, youths can do a lot of things," she said.

Nansozi however, cast doubt on the necessity of reducing the age of maturity for political reasons.

Murindwa Rutanga, a Professor of political science at the University argued that before the age of maturity was set at 18, so many considerations were made based on research findings and these considerations were made to shield young people from certain exploitations.

He said that some of the issues considered were someone's physiological readiness to be another or to sustain a family and level of attainment of education, adding that at 16, a person is still in 'O' level.

Rutanga told New Vision that by reducing the age to 16years, most youths will become vulnerable; they will be faced with many challenges including fending for themselves since they will be considered by their parents to be mature enough to take care of themselves.

"Politics is a serious issue and when you talk about it, you have to talk about experience. It's not about age but the experience that one has to handle the problems facing the country and at 16, one has not yet got the experience to handle such an office," he said.

Kayunga gave the remarks while making a presentation on Youth in Multiparty political dispensation, on Tuesday , during the National Youth Council symposium at Royal Suites Bugolobi.

The symposium was attended by the various political party youth leagues, Members of Parliament and the state minister for Youth and children, Florence Nakiwala.

In his presentation, Kayunga also called upon political parties which fail to field candidates for political positions to de-register instead of wasting resources.

Youths too proud to ask for jobs
Nakiwala in her remarks said that the problem with today's youth is that they cannot openly say that they need a job, lack respect for leadership and are too proud to listen to any authority.

"Unemployment is defined as your ability to mention that you need a job. I have come across so many people who are not employed but they cannot mention that they are not employed," she said.

She stated that the youths have proved that they know it all and no longer give a damn or listen to advice from their superiors, making the older people to take a back seat and let them be.