Empower youths to participate in nation building to secure the future

Politicians should, therefore, institute mentorship programmes to assist the youth and groom them for the future.

The opportunity to participate in decision-making has been a major hurdle for most young people. There have been recent calls from world leaders for young people to actively participate in development projects since they constitute the majority of the world’s population.

United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Kin moon, recently urged world leaders to invest heavily in the youth since failing to invest in them breeds a false economy. President Museveni has also reiterated this call. He has always called on the youth to rally behind him to achieve development.

Mr Museveni must give meaning to his numerous calls on the youth by creating opportunities for them to participate at all levels of governance to reflect his belief in them and also his readiness to work with them .

Youths are energetic, creative, good innovators and enthusiastic users of technology. The future of every country depends on the capacity of its young people. Senior citizens have more experience than their younger counterparts but that experience is gained through learning and participation, so until one is given the opportunity of participation, experience cannot be gained.

Politicians should, therefore, institute mentorship programmes to assist the youth and groom them for the future. The National Youth Council should be strengthened to perform its function as mandated. Currently, many young people don’t know what the Council is all about because it is not visible in some districts. I wonder how much it will cost a district to have such an important office established.

The President must encourage his ministers to appoint young graduates to serve as their assistants as a way of mentoring them to take up the challenge in the near future.

I expect the government to support Youth Members of Parliament at the national level to table a Bill for the National Youth Enterprise Fund so that their voices and feelings on national issues reflect in national policies and programmes. Youths must have access to quality education.

When they are empowered, they are able to participate in nation building. Some government posts should also be reserved for them.

We must work towards grooming formidable youth. The government must channel the necessary resources to institutions responsible for developing the youth.

Nasser Munuulo,
nassermunuulo@yahoo.com