By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
LUWEERO
The Multiparty Youth Forum (MYF) has appealed to the National Unity Platform (NUP) to join other political parties the platform. MYF Chairperson Ismail Kiirya stated that as the leading opposition party in Uganda, NUP should have been part of the forum to collectively address youth challenges.
“There are seven political parties with Members of Parliament. Out of these, six accepted to be part of this forum, but unfortunately, the NUP declined. It’s unfortunate that the main opposition political party didn’t actually realize this objective. And for them, they decided actually to politic instead of handling the challenges affecting the young people,” Kiirya said.
Kiirya made these remarks at a conference for Multiparty Youth Forum leaders on “Peaceful and Meaningful Participation of Youth in the 2025/26 General Elections,” held at Luweero Hotel Apartments. He also urged NUP to join the platform inorder to address the challenges facing the youth.
Founded in 2022, the MYF is one of the largest regional platforms engaging youth from diverse political backgrounds in democratic dialogue. It brings together youth from all political parties in Uganda, along with entities like the National Youth Council, the Uganda National Students Association, and the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs.
Kiirya urged young people to stop merely complaining about inclusivity and instead take up leadership roles at various governance levels. He emphasized that, according to Electoral Commission statistics, youth constitute the majority of voters.
“Young people are the ones complaining the most. But why do we complain when we are the majority? In the last election, the President was declared with around six million votes out of 11 million. This means that, as young people, we have the power to elect a leader based on our collective preference,” Kiirya noted.
Luweero Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Katabazi Seth also weighed in, urging MYF members not to be concerned about NUP’s refusal to join. He accused NUP of exploiting young people for political gains rather than focusing on national development.
“NUP is using the youth to serve its own interests, not those of the young people or the nation. A true leader should not mislead the youth in their pursuit of democracy,” Katabazi said.
He further emphasized that Uganda has moved beyond violent struggles for power and urged the youth to promote peace as the country prepares for the 2026 elections.
NIMD Country Director for Uganda, David Mugarra, expressed concern over increasing political intolerance and violence, calling on the youth to become agents of peace and coexistence.
“Unfortunately, our politics have been dominated by intolerance, hate, and divisions, especially among young people. Many have followed paths that led to destruction and even death. As we approach the electoral period, tensions are rising, but we must choose to be agents of change, peace, and unity,” Mugarra said.
He cautioned against political radicalism, stressing that young people should focus on constructive engagement rather than becoming instruments of violence.
