Why more youths are involved in ongoing election campaigns?

UGANDA DECIDES 2021 | YOUTH | POLITICS | COVID-19 |

Youth involvement in active politics has skyrocketed, especially in urban centres. Mostly, non-school going youths are more visible and vocal. Ranell Dickson Nsereko delved into the student world to determine why and how interested they are.

The year 2020 is finally etched on record as the year that brought everything to a standstill. From schools, churches, mosques, and events, everything was halted to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

What survived, albeit with restrictions, is the campaign for elective political positions. This has attracted a lot of excitement among the youth. Many are politically active as participants, supporters, cheerleaders, and analysts.

For many of them, being out of school has exposed them to their first-ever excitement of interacting with national campaigns directly. Many have traditionally been active politically in universities and schools contesting for different posts and that seems to have shaped them with confidence and esteem.

The digital generation has also brought about greater meaningful roles in leadership and governance. And this has inspired many to join active politics.

By their nature; youthful, vibrant, emotional, easier to mobilise and manipulate, the educated youth are matching their non-schooling peers in the fray.

I talked to some student leaders about how involved they are:

Tusingwire Romulus
Guild president Makerere University Business School.

Being a leader, every morning I wake up to my dad's call, checking to see if I am okay or I have been threatened by any political oppressor. The political environment is really not favourable currently. Lives and property are being lost recklessly.

None the less due to the fact that I am a guild president and in that capacity, I have funded a number of youths aspirants who are standing for youth councillor positions in different areas like Kira and Kayuga. I believe in proactive leadership where one walks the talk.

I am also actively laying ground in my constituency, Ndorwa West, for my aspirations as a member of parliament, come 2026.

I am working with Amnesty International, using it as a platform to air out the views of the youth engagement in politics in regard to the coming 2021 elections.

I am urging all youth to participate in politics. If you can't be active, at least vote.

Timothy Kadaga
Guild President Uganda Christian University Year 3.

Well, not many people envisaged the political environment we are in. It is more chaotic than before. You can see too much passion and desire from different political parties.

I am happy we are seeing more young people involved in this election. I see it as a learning process and therefore, a stepping stone for 2026 general election.

My prediction is that any incumbent from this 2021 election will have to think twice if they step in for 2026 election. I am involved in the election because it is a right given to me by the constitution. And, as a student leader, I know what voting means to a society. A vote is a voice! I am actively involved by encouraging every youth to participate and vote as a way of exercising their right. When people determine what society they want to live in, I want the youth to be part of it.

The environment after elections is usually chaotic too because disgruntled losers will be citing election fraud. You can already see it from the current tempers of violence, chaos, and deaths.

I am talking to my fellow youth through social media platforms to desist from participating in this chaos. I am also conducting meetings to urge them not to take part in such chaotic acts.

Abadhi Charity
Makerere Business School.

I don't really understand all this political excitement at all. And I am really fed up with the chaos. I thought I had had enough of the pandemic and accompanying lockdown and curfew; then came campaigns.

I think we should have not had elections during these hard-trying times of COVID-19. Instead, they should have opened schools and other tertiary institutions.

We are still failing to observe the Ministry of Health standard operating procedures! People don't wear masks and wash their hands almost everywhere. Elections are really a mess; people losing lives and property anyhow through crazy demonstrations! Not to mention the loud and disturbing noise from campaigns.

I don't have issues with youth participating in politics and would actually encourage them to follow their dreams and desires. After all, it is their right to vote. But on a personal level, it is not worth my time.

I have a right to voting but I believe it also implies I have a right not to vote. So, whoever comes to power is the one I will follow. After all, they say power comes from God.

However, although I am nonpartisan, I would suggest that the elderly generation gives room for the younger generation to try their luck and run the country.

Mbogga Patrick
Union President Uganda Martyrs University

Ugandans, especially younger people, are eager to see a new leadership; from head to the bottom in this coming election.

Circumstances have presented an opportunity to them through a dynamic driving force of a youthful presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu.

It is this energetic population that has embraced it and given others direction. The youth have regained their esteem and belief that it is possible. I too believe that this is the right time for all of us to get involved and participate in any way.

As a student leader, my key responsibility is to increase awareness of COVID-19 to the young people during these hard times of the pandemic. And whereas they have a lot of interest in politics, SOPs by the Ministry of Health should be observed swiftly while embracing and taking part in politics. You can't vote if you died of COVID-19.

As a youth, I am standing as an LCV Councilor in Mutundwe Parish to represent my people in Wakiso district.

I believe we, the youth, are the majority and so need to take charge of our destiny. My attempt is a way of increasing awareness of getting involved and attracting others to the election and sensitize them to go vote.

It is right for the youth to get involved in the leadership of this country because for political systems to be representative, all parts of society must be included.

Inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but it is also crucial to building stable and peaceful societies.

It also ensures developing policies that respond to the specific needs of the younger generation. For this to be successful, young people need to be empowered with knowing their rights and be given the required and necessary knowledge and capacity to participate in a meaningful way at all levels.

As a student leader, my first contribution is to mobilize my subordinates to embrace the politics of reason and ideology. But they should not sell their votes!

Louise Miteto Form Six Vacist
Forest Hill College, Mukono.

This politics is basing on the previous scandals, characterized by the brutality by forces and police. I don't seem to be loving and interested in it.

I love women in politics and they inspire me so much. But, as an individual, I am not really taking part actively.

I think politics in Uganda now is all about power thirst by all, oppositions and incumbents. I would love to go and vote but then I am not sure about what is going to happen by then.

They will call me a coward if I don't vote. So, I am stepping out of the house to vote even if, on my way to or from, I get brutally beaten or shot.

I would advise fellow youths to vote too because it is their right. But they must avoid chaos and demonstrations.

Umar Trife Wamboze, Form six

Kiira College Butiki.

We have always been told politics is a dirty game. So I really like to avoid it now, especially that I am a candidate. As a youth, I am not really paying much attention because I have finals coming in a few months.

The pandemic really affected me academically; I lost so much at school that I have to compensate within this so short a time.

So, I am praying for a peaceful election in my country but focusing and reading for my exams.

For those who have the opportunity and ability to vote, I urge you to cast your vote peacefully for the people that will help you transform your communities and well being.

Atuhaire Morris
St Kizito High School Namugongo.

I am advocating for my fellow youths and students to participate in politics peacefully. I am not yet of the voting age but I believe if I was, I would vote for my favourite candidates. At school, we learnt that voting is our constitutional right, so I am looking forward to exercising it.

I am following political events closely, especially on social media platforms and news.

I would say they aren't that appealing because of the too much brutality and chaos that involve loss of lives and property.

The youth that tend to provoke the security agencies is also another issue that may scare others not to actively participate due to intimidations.

My advice to fellow youth is to participate positively and leave the rest to God.