The Multiparty Youth Forum (MYF) has raised alarm over a government proposal to restrict appointments to District and City Service Commissions to only retired professionals, a move they say unfairly sidelines the youth under the guise of fighting corruption.

The proposed amendment to the Local Government Act, reportedly aimed at curbing corruption in public service, would see the Ministry of Local Government fast-track reforms that effectively block young people from serving on these commissions. The youth group said this would institutionalize age-based exclusion and reinforce harmful stereotypes about youth and integrity.

In a statement issued on Friday, May 16, 2025, the MYF Chairperson, Lynnet Nanyonjo, urged the Directorate for Ethics and Integrity to base its decisions on solid research and verifiable facts rather than speculation or hidden agendas.

MYF further called for transparency and the publication of clear statistics to support any claims made about corruption in public service, rather than relying on broad assumptions.

“Accusing younger people who often lack access to opportunities of corruption is unjust,” the statement stated.

Nanyonjo appealed to the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon Balaam Barugahara, Members of Parliament, and public officials to join them in challenging what they called an unfair and discriminatory narrative against the youth.

MYF called on journalists and civil society organizations to dig deeper into actual corruption trends within districts by examining the gap between employees’ earnings and their lifestyles, the misappropriation of public land, and the misuse of project funds while also taking note of the age of those implicated in such misconduct.

The Forum also demanded that individuals advising the government on such matters be held accountable, stressing that access to public opportunities and resources should be equitable, regardless of age or background.

“Undermining the youth is not just unfair; it is a direct threat to the future of our nation,” the statement added. “Young people are the backbone of tomorrow, and disregarding them today puts the country’s progress and stability at risk,” the MYF statement added.

MYF concluded by urging the government to adopt inclusive, evidence-based reforms that empower young people. They stressed that meaningful anti-corruption efforts must foster a culture of integrity that includes and uplifts youth, rather than marginalizing them, ultimately strengthening both governance and national development.