Maak kennis met de NIMD Uganda Democracy Academy die leren van burgers omzet in gestructureerde, door jongeren geleide politieke actie

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“We are here to organise, not antagonise.” Akiim Ssenyonjo, UDA Alumni 3rd Cohort

With half of Uganda’s 45 million citizens under 18, and those between 18–30 making up 23.5% of the population, the country is overlooking a generation that should be reshaping its political landscape. Data shows that majority of cabinet members and local government officials are above the age of 40, which means only 3.8% of members of Parliament are 30 years or younger. 

The barriers affecting youth participation are significant: prohibitive campaign costs in the hundreds of millions of Uganda shillings, limited civic education, apathy, political violence, and cultural stereotypes that dismiss young people as inexperienced or disruptive. For years, discussions about youth and politics in Uganda have majorly focused on identifying problems rather than solutions.

Now, a new generation of young leaders is taking action.

Turning Learning into Leadership: The Uganda National Working Group

To strengthen meaningful youth participation in democracy at national, regional and global levels, NIMD Oeganda facilitated the establishment of  a National Working Group (NWG) on Sustainable Youth Political Participation within the WYDE Civic Engagement Programme to bring together the knowledge and competencies of diverse organizations. The NWG is currently comprised of 12 young men and women from different regions and political parties.

The NWG carries a dual responsibility: translating the civic education and leadership training gained through the Uganda Democracy Academy (UDA) into concrete, nationally relevant action, as well as, nationalizing the regional roadmap: Roadmap for Youth Political Participation in East Africa— adapting its ambitions to fit Uganda’s specific political, social, and economic realities. The regional Roadmap builds on alumni from Democracy Schools in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somaliland and Uganda, as part of the WYDE Civic Engagement programme, while building sustainable impact on youth in politics beyond the programme’s objectives. The regional Roadmap will be launched in July in Addis Ababa.

A Roadmap Built by Youth, for Youth

In 2025, the NWG began creating a five-year national roadmap (2026–2030) to improve youth participation in politics in Uganda. The roadmap – grounded in data from UBOS, Afrobarometer, and UNDP assessments –was shaped through extensive inclusive consultations with youth, government officials, civil society, and international partners.

A central focus of the roadmap is the economic barriers that prevent youth from entering politics. Running a viable political campaign in Uganda can cost between UGX 400–500 million – around 92,000 Euros – a sum that effectively excludes most young aspiring politicians. The NWG proposes reducing nomination fees to UGX 5–10 million – around 118,000 Euros – establishing a Youth Political Fund to provide microgrants for local campaigns and leveraging government programs such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model to support economic independence.

The numerous training sessions during the fellowship were rare opportunities that many young people across the country miss in their quest for leadership. Implementing the roadmap feels like I am adding a brick to nation-building and passing on the knowledge I acquired during the fellowship.” – Omia Abraham, UDA Fellowship Alumni

Naming the Barriers, Building the Solutions

The NWG openly addresses key challenges to youth political participation, including political violence which discourages young people from running for office. Gender disparities persist, with young women facing intimidation, stigma, and high teenage pregnancy rates that limit their civic engagement. The analysis also points to misinformation and fragmented youth groups that compete rather than collaborate.

The NWG meeting the Secretary of the National Secretariat for Special Interest Groups at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development

To address these issues, the roadmap commits to annually documenting electoral violence to raise awareness and support advocacy efforts through media and human rights partnerships, while also strengthening civic education by training young people in leadership and policy advocacy through a structured programme.

“The major barriers young women face in politics are gender-based bias and stereotypes, assumptions about leadership and capabilities, and underrepresentation, where having fewer women in office makes it harder to break in. The roadmap addresses these by raising awareness, calling out biases, implementing policies and training to recognize their impact, and creating dialogue to shift mindsets.” – Ronah Gumoshabe, UDA Alumni 3rd Cohort.

The Role of NIMD Uganda: Walking Alongside, Not Ahead

“The Academy provided us with a safe space to build trust across party lines, and that is a rare thing in Ugandan politics. In the NWG, I use that foundation to bridge the generational gap and foster the cross-party solidarity needed to achieve the inclusive, vibrant democracy outlined in our National Roadmap for Sustainable Youth Participation in Politics.” – Basalirwa Jonathan, UDA Fellowship Alumni

Since its establishment, UDA has worked to bridge the gap between Uganda’s democratic ideals and its democratic reality, particularly for young people. Through the Academy, NIMD provides non-partisan civic education, leadership development, and cross-party dialogue platforms, building cohorts of politically active young Ugandans who apply what they have learned in organised, sustained and impactful ways and wave the flag for democracy in their communities.

The NWG meeting the lead of the Christian Democratic International Center

Looking Ahead: The Stakes Could Not Be Higher

After the 2026 general elections, the NWG has set ambitious yet achievable targets: a 20% increase in youth candidacy by 2028 and 15–20% youth representation in parliament by 2030. If successful, these changes could yield significant economic dividends and help boost GDP growth to 6–7% annually and reduce electoral volatility in the country’s most contested regions.

But beyond statistics, this is a story about belonging. About young Ugandans who have been told, directly and indirectly, that politics is not for them, deciding together that it is. The Uganda National Working Group is not waiting for a seat at the table. They are building one.

“Our hopes are high and positive because the roadmap is targeting the right people and aiming to solve the exact, existing challenges we face as we pursue our political journeys. We have partnered with stakeholders who understand the prevailing situation on the ground and share our goal: creating a sustainable environment for youth in politics. We are here to organise, not antagonise.” – Akiim Ssenyonjo, UDA Alumni 3rd Cohort

WYDE Civic Engagement in Implemented by the Netherlands Institute of Multiparty Democracy and is powered by the European Union and the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD). The WYDE Civic Engagement project is a component of the Youth and Women in Democracy Initiative (WYDE) by the European Commission.