The Leader of Opposition (LoP), Joel Ssenyonyi, has called for more effective representation and participation of the youth in Parliament, despite having about 30% of members of parliament under the age of 35 and five youth-specific positions at the parliamentary level—four at the regional level and one at the national level.

He made this call during the National Youth Symposium at Four Points Sheraton Kampala on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

In his speech, Ssenyonyi said that it is evident that the youth do not have enough representation, yet they constitute the biggest population in the country.

“It’s evident that there are not enough representatives in government, and their interests are not well understood,” Ssenyonyi said.

Ssenyonyi said that the financial battle coupled with the pervasive commercialization of politics presents daunting obstacles that often discourage passionate and capable young people from actively participating in the political arena but also undermine the very foundation of democracy.

He stated that they must actively address this imbalance and make every effort to remove financial barriers from young people’s aspirations to make significant contributions to political discourse and decision-making processes.

“This requires a multifaceted approach, including measures to improve financial transparency in political funding and support for grassroots initiatives that empower our young leaders,” he added.

According to Ssenyonyi, there is a need to engage with mainstream media outlets to feature stories, orbits, and interviews highlighting the perspectives and aspirations of young leaders.

The event was hosted by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy and partnered with Akina Mama Afrika and the African Youth Federation, among others.