JEEMA and NRM youth leaders disagree ahead of planned tours

In a letter dated May 31, titled “Notification of Mobilisation Activities by Members of the NRM Youth League under the YYM (Yellow Youth Movement) Initiative in June and July, 2024,” Jacob Eyeru, chairperson of the National Youth Council and national coordinator of the YYM Initiative, requested clearance from the IGP.

“In line with section 5 of the Public Order Management Act, I am writing to notify you that the YYM shall hold 1st phase of NRM youth mobilisation drives in the months of June and July in the following locations:

1. Mbarara City on Saturday June 8, 2024

2. Gulu City on Saturday June 22

3. Mbale City on Saturday July 6 and

4. Kampala City on Saturday July 20, 2024.

“The YYM is an initiative in the NRM Youth League to mobilise youth in Uganda ahead of the 2026 elections to understand, champion and exemplify the issues of relevance to mass development as already explained by President Museveni.

“These issues include quality free education for all, grassroots economic empowerment, strong healthcare referral system and mass skilling of all Ugandan youth, punctuated by mass fighting of corruption.”

According to Eyeru, YYM achieves the aforementioned goals by supporting President Museveni’s leadership and maintaining his candidature for President of Uganda in 2026 through the MZEI TULUMBE 2026 campaign.

“I look forward to your patriotic cooperation with the youth of the NRM party,” he told the IGP.

JEEMA annoyed

Musanje Haroona, chairperson of the JEEMA party youth league, has no doubt been enraged by Eyeru’s letter.

It is worth noting that parties such as JEEMA, UPC, and FDC, among others, are members of the National Youth Council, which brings together all of the country’s political youth leagues.

In a letter to Eyeru dated June 1, Haroona expressed concern about partisan bias and its impact on inclusivity within the national youth council.

“As the chairperson of JEEMA youth league, I write to express our profound concern over the recent letter addressed to the IGP with statements that clearly shows that NYC is an extension of the NRM youth league.

“In your NYC headed letter, dated 31st May 2024, you stated: “The YYM is an initiative in the NRM Youth League to mobilise youth in Uganda ahead of the 2026 elections.” “This clearly indicates a partisan agenda being promoted under the guise of NYC activities.”

Haroona told his counterpart Eyeru that such actions “undermine the inclusivity that the NYC is supposed to uphold.”

Regarding the implications of partisan bias, the JEEMA Youth League leader stated that it erodes inclusivity, denies rights, and undermines democratic values.

“NYC must operate impartially, serving the interest of all young Ugandans. We demand that you restore trust by ensuring that NYC activities are inclusive and non-partisan. It is unacceptable to continually drag young people into chaos close to elections.

“The politicians attempting to involve them have done nothing meaningful during their many years in power. This behaviour must stop immediately,” Musanje wrote.