Int’l Youth Day 2024: “Uganda deserves a little better,” says UPC’s Isimbwa 

Kampala | Soroti Core Primary Teachers’ College in Asuret sub-county, Soroti district will host the inter[national] youth day [IYD] celebrations for 2024 on August 12, 2024.

The Day was first observed in 2000, among other things, to recognise youths’ contributions to the development of their economies and to acknowledge the challenges that young people face. 

The IYD will be held under the theme of Youth digital pathways for sustainable development.

 Uganda’s theme is “Skills Development for Enhancement of Youth Opportunities.”

Ahead of the Day, Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party youth leader Dan Isimbwa says the country appears to be at a crossroads due to the youth bulge.

This bulge, says Isimbwa, is increasingly becoming a challenge to the entire world. “This is evident in the Uganda Bureau of Statistics Census Report of 2024, which revealed that 50.5% of the national population of 45.9 million people are children between the ages of 0 and 17, and 22.7% are young people aged 18 to 30.”

“This implies that the future of our young people lies in quality education coupled with science and technology that offers necessary skills, knowledge and provide equitable opportunities for them to succeed in life if we’re to compete on the global market,” the youth leader said as he addressed a media conference on Wednesday.

The nurturing of children by all stakeholders is very important to the socioeconomic transformation of our economy, he noted, however, that “our education system as a country lacks adequate resources at all levels (pre-primary, primary, secondary, and college/university) thus responsible for the half-baked products produced in Uganda.”

He stated that the new education curriculum, which is being implemented and is expected to provide our pupils and students with more scientific and practical skills for real innovation, is almost a stillbirth and points to a reversal of the previously used system, which does not indicate a successful future for our youth.

“The schools are struggling to have the necessary in-puts, teaching staff is wanting and its retention is increasingly becoming difficult. The conditions of service and pay is less effective in the wake of high cost of living. 

“Uganda deserves a little better and we need to focus our budget in such productive areas like education for our young people who are the majority to thrive in future!” Isimbwa said.

The legacy and values we wish to carry forward must be passed down to the youth at an early age, necessitating adequate preparation of our younger people at all levels, he stated.

By now, according to UPC, Uganda should have several of Joshua Cheptegeis, our newly crowned 10,000 metres Olympic Champion, so that when he retires, as he has indicated, there is continuity of talent and no vacuum left behind.

“UPC takes this opportunity to congratulate Cheptegei upon winning the Gold Medal but most importantly for making Uganda proud.”

“Sports more than lucrative”

The Congress party has reminded the government that sports have not only become a lucrative career, but they also help to raise the country’s flag around the world while also absorbing our youth who are unemployed or underemployed, which should be a priority.

UPC calls on the government to invest in sports and modern infrastructure at the district, regional, and national levels. This will assist in identifying and developing talent at the grassroots level. We have been following with concern the unfair funding of different federation of sports by government.

Netball, boxing, basketball, athletics, rugby, football, and motorcross, among other sports, should be treated equally, and the government should support people with diverse talents and skills.

Youth are demanding 

“If the world continues to neglect the youth question, it will provoke and force them (youth) to come up and assert their voice as we are witnessing,” Isimbwa said, citing immediate neighbour, Kenya that has continues to experience GenZ demonstrations which has forced President William Ruto to withdraw the Finance Bill 2024.

Another outcome of such a demonstration was the dismissal of Ruto’s entire cabinet and the adoption of a national dialogue. 

“In Uganda, the youths took on streets and wanted to march up to the National Assembly to express solidarity to the anti-corruption fight that was declared by the government which was foiled by police. UPC reiterates its call to release all the youths who were recently arrested during the anti-corruption demonstrations and instead listen to their concerns as opposed to the ruthless response against them.

“In West Africa, Nigeria, the youths have declared a 10-day strike across the country against hunger. In Asia, Bangladesh, the demonstrators mainly the youth broke ranks and captured State House thus forcing the country’s leader to flee to neighbouring India.

“These are no longer early warning signs of the youth question but becoming a big crisis which Uganda and the entire world needs to give utmost attention as we celebrate the International Youth Day.

“UPC, the government in waiting, sees youths as part and parcel of our governance in the country. As stated in the Party Constitution of 2008 (as amended), “to develop, encourage, and promote young men and women in leadership roles and prepare them for governance of the country by mainstreaming and integrating them into the body fabric of the Party.”

Internally, Isimbwa said the party’s strength is mainly rooted in the youth. “As young congressmen and women, we are following the direction of the Party President Hon. Jimmy Akena to effectively participate in the 2025/2026 general elections.

“We call upon all our youth members across the country to follow the released roadmap by the Independent Electoral Commission closely and offer themselves for elective positions starting with Special Interest Groups (SIGs) early next year.”