THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 2021-2026 A Healthy and Produc�ve Youth Popula�on Contribu�ng to a Peaceful and Prosperous Uganda December 2020 2 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO CONTENT LIST OF ACRONYMS 3 FOREWORD 4 PREAMBLE 5 GUIDING LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR THE YOUTH MANIFESTO 6 INTRODUCTION 8 CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND 9 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 2021-2026 11 YOUTH EMPLOYMENT 12 Employment and Livelihoods 13 Youth in Agriculture 15 Youth Employment under the Creative Arts/ industry 16 YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING 17 Youth Participation in Decision Making 18 EDUCATION AND SPORTS 20 Education 21 Sports 22 HEALTH CARE FOR ALL 23 CLIMATE ACTION AND YOUTH FRIENDLY CITIES 25 Climate Action 26 Youth Friendly Cities 27 FINANCING THE YOUTH MANIFESTO 2021 28 Financing the Youth Manifesto 2021 29 The Na�onal youth Manifesto 2021-2026 is a framework for the youth of Uganda. Any one can distribute the manifesto or use it to advocate for the youth issues entailed in it. However, reproducing and reprin�ng of this manifesto should only be done with wri�en consent from the Youth Coali�on on Electoral Democracy in Uganda. The address is at the back. 3 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO LIST OF ACRONYMS ASM BTVET COVID CSO FY GDP ICT IP MDA NDC NDP NIMD NYC NYM PPI PWD RMNCAH SDG UBOS UGX UNFCCC UNFPA UPDF UPET USD YCED Ar�sanal Small Miner Business Technical Voca�onal Educa�on and Training Corona Virus Disease Civil Society Organisa�on Financial Year Gross Domes�c Product Informa�on Communica�on Technology Intellectual Property Ministry Department Agency Na�onally Determined Contribu�on Na�onal Development Plan Netherlands Ins�tute for Mul�party Democracy Na�onal Youth Council Na�onal Youth Manifesto Public Policy Ins�tute Person Living with Disability Reproduc�ve Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health Sustainable Development Goal Uganda Bureau of Sta�s�cs Uganda Shillings United Na�ons Framework Conven�on on Climate Change United Na�ons Fund for Popula�on Uganda Peoples Defence Force Universal Post Primary Educa�on and Training United States Dollar Youth Coali�on for Electoral Democracy 4 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO FOREWORD Youth in Uganda present an immense yet untapped poten�al for na�onal socioeconomic development. This Na�onal Youth Manifesto, building on other similar frameworks star�ng way back in 2010 is yet another reflec�on of the situa�on of youth but also a reminder of the necessary policy and programma�c shi�s to mainstream the ac�ve par�cipa�on in and contribu�on of youth to na�onal development. The Youth Manifesto is also a commitment by youth leaders and organisa�ons to further organise and inspire the diversi�es of young people in the country not to sit back but rather do something to change the status quo. It is hoped that youth, youth leaders and organisa�ons will fully embrace this manifesto and use its policy recommenda�ons to engage poli�cal par�es, poli�cal aspirants/candidates and policy makers at the various levels of governance. The Youth Coali�on on Electoral Democracy in Uganda (YCED) appreciates the technical and financial input from partners towards the fulfilment of 2021 – 2026 framework. In a special way, we appreciate the African Youth Development Link (AYDL) that hosts YCED; the YCED core members and other youth organisa�ons spread across the regions of Uganda. We also appreciate the 1,218 youth in their diversi�es across the country who endured the long phone calls and survey to give feedback and informa�on which has informed this manifesto. We are indebted to the Democra�c Governance Facility (DGF), Diakonia, Acton Aid Uganda, and Na�onal Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Restless Development for financially suppor�ng this process. We further appreciate the youth team of volunteers that undertook the consulta�ons and produced the ini�al dra�. Lastly, we appreciate the Public Policy Ins�tute (PPI) and the Netherlands Ins�tute for Mul�party Democracy (NIMD) for agreeing to incorporate the Uganda Youth Poli�cal Memorandum into this Manifesto framework. We call on poli�cal par�es, poli�cal aspirants and the subsequent government to take ac�on to incorporate the youth aspira�ons and priori�es entailed in this manifesto in their Manifestos, plans, programs and budgets. Sincerely Youth Coali�on for Electoral Democracy 1. Core members of YCED - Open Space Centre, Uganda Youth Network, Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs, Show Abili�es Uganda, Interna�onal Founda�on for Recovery and Development, Center for Policy Analys 5 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO PREAMBLE We the YOUTH of Uganda who cons�tute the majority of the popula�on are ENTITLED to recogni�on on issues of governance: RECOGNISING that the youth popula�on is heterogeneous² and that its par�cipa�on in and influence of policy outcomes is not commensurate with their numerical strength; NOTING that the 1995 Cons�tu�on of the Republic of Uganda realizes and recognizes this imbalance and thus explicitly calls for equal opportunity in several of its provisions; FURTHER NOTING that young people have the right to work, associate, collaborate and network with others on shared values, aspira�ons, objec�ves, and goals on an equal and mutually beneficial basis; ACKNOWLEDGING that government has made some progress against the 2016-2021 Na�onal Youth Manifesto but major challenges s�ll exist; RECOGNISING that youth can be the solu�on not the problem and can be seen as a resource to drive na�onal development; Do hereby COMMIT ourselves to: 1. Respect, promote and protect democratic and other values and, uphold and affirm the rights of all citizens of Uganda. 2. Use our strength in diversity to promote national harmony in all political, social, and economic affairs. 3. Exercise political tolerance, maturity, sobriety and respect for other people’s political views and opinions. 4. Desist from acts of violence, hooliganism, and lawlessness. 5. Desist from corrupt practices and promote transparency and accountability in public affairs. 6. Take active roles in the public affairs. 7. Be sensitive to the rights of people with disabilities and recognize the important roles and contributions they can make to national development. 8. Get involved in meaningful and acceptable activities that generate income. 9. Create safe and inclusive spaces for meaningful participation in decision making processes at local, national, and international levels. RE AFFIRMING the belief that the government exists to serve the will of the people and in this case youth, and that youth as a significant propor�on of the ci�zenry of Uganda are the source of all poli�cal power enjoyed by the state; 2. Heterogenous nature of youth implies of their diversi�es including by gender (male or female); physical wellbeing such as youth with disabili�es; educated and uneducated; those working in the formal and informal sectors; urban and rural including those in slums, remand homes/prisons; street youth; youth in refugee camps; unemployed youth; youth living with HIV/AIDS, among others. 6 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO GUIDING LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR THE YOUTH MANIFESTO This manifesto was generated with full considera�on of the legal and policy frameworks expressly provided for or implied in interna�onal, regional and Uganda’s legal instruments and policy documents as illustrated below: Table 1: Table 1: Key Legal Provisions for Youth Par�cipa�on in Development and Governance Legal/Policy Instrument Key Provisions Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) The ac�ve engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive and stable socie�es by the target date, and to aver�ng the worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict and migra�on. African Youth Charter Uganda signed and ra�fied the African Youth Charter which is a regional conven�on that sets the principles underpinning the responsibili�es to Member States for the development of youth. Cons�tu�on of the Republic of Uganda ‘The State shall take affirma�ve ac�on in favour of groups marginalised on the basis of gender, age, disability or any other reason created by history, tradi�on or custom, for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them’ Ar�cle 32 (1). Na�onal Development Plan III (2020/21 – 2024/24 A large youthful popula�on consis�ng of 23 percent of the popula�on (approx. 9.6 million people) creates more opportuni�es than challenges, including the poten�al demographic dividend from abundant labour force and future demand. To enhance skills and voca�onal development, Government will priori�ze skills and voca�onal development to address unemployment, especially among the youth. Na�onal Youth Policy 2001 (Revised 2016) The NYP exists as a framework for harnessing the full poten�al of the youths for improved produc�vity and equitable socio-economic and poli�cal development. Na�onal Youth Council Act (1993) The NYC Act is a legal framework that establishes the Na�onal Youth Council and provides for its composi�on, objec�ves and func�ons, administra�on, and finances, among others. Most importantly, the NYC Act obligates government with the primary responsibility to champion youth development in the country. 7 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 8 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO INTRODUCTION The Na�onal Youth Manifesto (NYM) is a youth-led poli�cal framework that highlights key policy priori�es/demands by youth to government, poli�cal par�es, and candidates ahead of and beyond the 2021 general elec�ons. The inten�on of the Manifesto framework is to bring forth the issues to policy makers during and a�er the general elec�ons, for considera�on to harness the youth poten�al for na�onal development. The manifesto is spearheaded by the Youth Coali�on on Electoral Democracy in Uganda (YCED)³, a broad coali�on of likeminded youth-led and youth-focused Civil Society Organisa�ons (CSOs), united in the desire to create synergy in various electoral democracy efforts in Uganda. Through the Manifesto framework, YCED is amplifying the voices of youth on issued-based elec�ons as a founda�on for a credible electoral process which is a prerequisite for democra�c maturity in Uganda. The Youth Manifesto (2021 – 2026) was developed through a na�on-wide consulta�ve process involving youth leaders and youth in their diversi�es to arrive at the most pressing issues that require urgent a�en�on to strengthen youth development and par�cipa�on in governance. In addi�on, a review of the previous manifesto document and process (2016 – 2021) was undertaken to highlight and build on the achievements while underscoring the challenges. The final framework was reviewed by youth development and governance experts and validated at various pla�orms to ensure ownership by all stakeholders. The 2021-2026 Na�onal Youth Manifesto is a product of three phases including; Phase I: Iden�fica�on of possible asks capturing as many policy asks - from the widest group of young people - as possible; Phase II: Focused on priori�sa�on of asks and brainstorming ‘how success will look like’; and Phase III: Mapping the ‘how’ and tracking success with a plan around each ask to measure/track progress. Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the limita�ons occasioned by the measures to combat the pandemic, minimal face-toface consulta�ons were undertaken; instead, the team virtually consulted youth, youth leaders and organisa�ons. Through this process, a total of 1218 youth (491 female and 727 male) were consulted. In addi�on, the team leveraged other youth frameworks including the Uganda Youth Poli�cal Memorandum⁴, which was designed to strengthen youth poli�cal par�cipa�on⁵ and support current and prospec�ve youth leaders to review the structures and current arrangements of youth entry into poli�cs. The result Youth Memo and its policy proposals were incorporated into this manifesto under the youth poli�cal par�cipa�on. 3. The Coali�on was formed in 2014 as part of the process to improve coordina�on and ac�on amongst youth-led and youthfocused CSOs. 4. The Uganda Youth Poli�cal Memorandum was an ini�a�ve of the Netherlands Ins�tute for Mul�party Democracy (NIMD) and the Public Policy Ins�tute (PPI) and incorpora�on into this manifesto was sought Youth poli�cal par�cipa�on for this ini�a�ve is defined as ‘the ac�ve state and non-state individual or collec�ve par�cipa�on of, and influencing by, young people of policy and prac�ce decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their communi�es at local, na�onal, and global levels’. 5. Youth poli�cal par�cipa�on for this ini�a�ve is defined as ‘the ac�ve state and non-state individual or collec�ve par�cipa�on of, and influencing by, young people of policy and prac�ce decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their communi�es at local, na�onal, and global levels’. 6. Furlong, Andy (2013). Youth Studies: An Introduc�on. Routledge: New York. 9 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND Youthfulness is a socially constructed intermediary phase that stands between childhood and adulthood⁶. Globally, the United Na�ons defines a youth as being between the ages of 15 and 24 years old. The African Youth Charter, which is a regional framework, defines youth as any individual between 15-35 years of age⁷ while the Uganda Na�onal Youth Policy s�pulates that the youth bracket encompasses all persons aged 15 to 30 years and recognises that youth are a heterogeneous group⁸. Cons�tu�onally, a youth in Uganda is a person between the ages of 18 – 30 years. In view of the fact that this is an advocacy framework to inform policy and programming, the defini�on of a youth is a young person between the ages of 15 – 30 years in line with the Na�onal Youth Policy. As highlighted in the guiding legal and policy framework for this Manifesto, youth poli�cal inclusion is clearly provided for in the 1995 Cons�tu�on⁹, 41.6 million currently es�mated popula�on of Uganda 78% of the popula�on is 30 years and below the Na�onal Youth Council Act (1993), and the Local Government Act (1997)¹⁰. To some extent, these legal and policy documents have domes�cated several regional and global protocols including the African Youth Charter and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ins�tu�onally, Uganda established and opera�onalized the Na�onal Youth Council (NYC) in 1996 to act as an agency that mainstreams the ac�ve par�cipa�on of youths in decisionmaking at the various levels of governance. Besides the NYC, there are a mul�plicity of youth-led and youthfocused non-governmental organisa�ons that cons�tute the Uganda youth civil society eco-system. Despite the robust legal and ins�tu�onal framework, the state of youth in Uganda remains precarious as a high propor�on of the youth has not benefited fully from the educa�on system, while the quality of employment has remained low for most of them. 12 million es�mated popula�on of young people between 15–30 years of age living in Uganda 03% growth rate per annum 7. The African Youth Charter 2006 8. The Uganda Na�onal Youth Policy 9. Ar�cle 78 (c) of the 1995 Cons�tu�on provides for the elec�on of youth representa�ves in the na�onal parliament to represent the interest of the youth. 10. The Local Government Act (1997), sec�on 10 (C) provides for ‘two councilors, one of whom shall be a female youth, represen�ng the youth in the district’ at both sub county and district local government councils. 11. UBOS (2014). Na�onal Popula�on and Housing Census Report 12. UBOS (2020). Popula�on Day Celebra�on Report 10 In 2014, Uganda’s popula�on was es�mated at ‘34.9 million’¹¹ and is currently es�mated at 41.6 million people¹². With a growth rate of 3 percent per annum coupled with a high fer�lity rate of 5.4 children per woman, Uganda has the third fastest growing popula�on in the world. About 32.4 million people (78 percent of the popula�on) is 30 years and below with an es�mated 12 million young people (15 – 30 years). Uganda’s youth face several social challenges including poverty and poor health. There are high rates of teenage pregnancies because the median age for sexual debut is 16.4 years. 24 percent of girls (below 20 years of age) in Uganda are mothers or pregnant with their first, some�mes second child. Many factors contribute to high teenage pregnancies, including social pressures, the low status of women, religious pressures, unemployment, and lack of equitable access to family planning methods, including contracep�ve informa�on, educa�on, and services for the adolescents. Na�onally, youth unemployment and poverty as indicated in the NDP III is one of the binding constraints to growth and development and young people are hit harder as they face numerous challenges transi�ng into the labour market. The unemployment rate for youth aged 18 – 30 years stands at 13.3 percent, higher than the na�onal average which stands at 9.2 percent. The unemployment rate is however highest in Kampala at 21 percent. This is despite the fact that 13.UBOS (2014). Na�onal Housing and Popula�on Census 2014 14.UBOS (2017). Uganda Na�onal Household Survey 2016/2017 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Uganda’s economy measured in Gross Domes�c Product (GDP) has been growing with an es�mated worth of UGX 109.9 trillion in FY2018/19 in nominal terms according to the Uganda Bureau of Sta�s�cs. However, majority of youths are not financially included as a large ‘propor�on of households (68.9 percent) is s�ll stuck in the subsistence economy’¹³ (UBOS, 2014). The ‘percentage of people living below the poverty line (USD 1.00 per day) was 21.4 percent in FY2017/18 corresponding to nearly 8 million persons’¹⁴. UNFPA in Uganda es�mates that 10.9 percent of young males aged 10-24 years are heading households and 38.5 percent of young people aged 10-19 years live in the two poorest wealth quin�les. UNFPA further es�mates that up to ‘8.8 million young people aged 1524 years are not engaged in educa�on, employment or under any training’. The unemployment situa�on of youth has been worsened by COVID-19 and the measures to combat its spread. UBOS (2020) sta�s�cs indicate that about 29.4 percent of the businesses closed opera�ons during the lockdown period, majority of these in the real estate, arts, entertainment, and recrea�on sectors. 11 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 2021-2026 To address the youth situa�on in Uganda, and as highlighted in the background to this manifesto, the youth in their diversi�es present the under-listed policy proposi�ons that are specific and directed at the respec�ve policy-making ins�tu�ons. To implement and track progress of realisa�on of these recommenda�ons, Manifesto Stakeholders including, government MDAs, development partners, youth-led and youth-focused organisa�ons will iden�fy the recommenda�ons that speak to their mandate and programma�c aspira�ons and mainstream them in their planning frameworks. The YCED host ins�tu�on will be responsible for developing a monitoring dashboard to inform progress and report to stakeholders on a regular basis. 12 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 01 YOUTH EMPLOYMENT 13 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Photo credit: www.welthungerhilfe.org A) Employment and Livelihoods Uganda’s na�onal unemployment rate is 9.2 percent. The unemployment rate for youth aged 18 – 30 is 13.3 percent¹⁵. Recommenda�ons 1.1 The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development should amend the Mining Act, 2003 to provide for youth par�cipa�on in the extrac�ve industry as follows; There is need to mainstream Ar�sanal and Small Scale (ASM) into the Act and thereby formalise their ac�vi�es. In addi�on, the Ministry should consider zooming specific mining areas exclusively for ASM. Youth will directly benefit from these amendments because they cons�tute the majority of ASMs. 9.2% Uganda’s na�onal unemployment rate 15.CDA, UBOS Uganda Na�onal Household Survey 2016-2017 13.3% The unemployment rate for youth aged 18 – 30 14 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 1.2 The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should expedite the passing and implementa�on of the Na�onal Graduate Scheme Bill and facilitate a professionally staffed Na�onal Youth Services Secretariat accessible by all youth in their diversi�es and across the country. The Na�onal Graduate Scheme Bill recognises that transi�on from school to work is a major challenge for graduates due to several obstacles in Uganda’s labour eco-system. Relatedly, the UBOS iden�fies limita�on in hands-on skills and nega�ve a�tude of graduates as some of the main challenges that affect labour produc�vity in the private sector. This is further emphasised by employers that the current mandatory internship program is inefficient due to the short period of the internship (2 months) and is always held during the middle of the student’s academic journey. Consequently, the need to extend the internship period to at least 6 months a�er the student has graduated out of the university. 1.3 The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should expedite development, publishing, and gaze�ng of a na�onal local content plan which contains mechanisms for achieving local content obliga�ons prescribed by the Act. More specifically, youth are demanding par�cipa�on in government procurement through ring fencing at least 30 percent local contracts for youth owned companies. Since the passing of the Local Content Act, 2019, government has been slow in developing and passing the Local Content Plan to implement the Act, thereby undermining this important legisla�on. 1.4. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should gradually implement a 24 hour economic system through legisla�on, star�ng with the new ci�es to generate increased job opportuni�es and systemic expansion of the service sector to accommodate more youth in business and other produc�ve ac�vi�es. 1.5. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should consider affirma�ve provisions for youth par�cipa�on in the ongoing wealth crea�on and COVID-19 (post pandemic) economic response interven�ons. 15 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Photo credit: www.ghmgstrategies.com b) Youth in Agriculture We recognise recent efforts by government to encourage the mainstreaming of youth in the agricultural sector in line with the Na�onal Agricultural Extensions Policy and Strategy (2016) and the third Na�onal Development Plan (NDP III). About 75 percent of the workforce and 55 percent of youth in Uganda are engaged in the agriculture sector. Agriculture as a produc�ve sector presents an opportunity for youth employment crea�on for Ugandans since about 70 percent of the households depend on agriculture. However, li�le effort has been made in commercialising the sector to make it a�rac�ve to youth. Addi�onally, the backward and forward linkages between agriculture and agro-industries have the ability to sustainably transform agro value chains to ensure sufficient supply for domes�c industries to undertake transforma�ve sustainable business. Recommenda�ons 1.6. The Ministry of Science and Technology should increase its investments in agribusiness incuba�on centres to enable youth across the country access modern agribusiness equipment and technical advisory services. 1.7. The Ministry of Science and Technology should popularise exis�ng agribusiness innova�on hubs such as the Uganda Industrial Research Ins�tute to enable more youth to acquire hands-on entrepreneur training. 1.8. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Coopera�ves should promote youth-led agrobased coopera�ves to enhance young people’s chances of access to credit and technical advisory services. 16 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO c) Youth Employment under the Crea�ve Arts/ industry We commend government for recognising the importance of culture especially in promo�on of iden�ty, cultural diversity through the Na�onal Cultural Policy and as an enabler for youths in accessing culture. This is one of the emerging non-tradi�onal industries that can greatly contribute to employment crea�on, foreign exchange earnings, revenue genera�on and tourism promo�on in the country. However, the sector is dogged with limited access to finance, high levels of piracy of intellectual work due to absence of mechanisms to counter cyber piracy, lack of access to highend produc�on equipment, inadequate professional capacity resul�ng into poor quality market products, including films. As an economic failure, this has led to low incomes and low status for the ar�sts, majority of whom are youth. The crea�ve industries are therefore less profitable to those who invest their knowledge and capital to produce crea�ve goods and services. Recommenda�ons 1.9 The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should create a Cultural Capital Fund to build and renovate public libraries, museums, and galleries across the country to enable youth access to culture and support youth in the crea�ve arts. 1.10 The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should design and implement a programme that supports the employment of youth curators at museums and other na�onal heritage establishments. 1.11 The Uganda Registra�on Services Bureau should strictly enforce the Intellectual property (IP) Act (aka the copyright law) as a means to professionalising the Arts and Crea�ve Industries. 17 02 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING 18 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Youth Par�cipa�on in Decision Making We commend government for a fairly respectable legal, ins�tu�onal and norma�ve framework for youth inclusion in decision and policy making processes. However, youth par�cipa�on in governance and decision making is affected by limited access to relevant and �mely informa�on, limited accountability of leaders to the young people, inadequate capacity and leadership skills for youth leaders, highly commercialised poli�cs including nomina�on fees for LCV Candidates at UGX1m while Member of Parliament Parliament (MP) nomina�on fee was increased from UGX 200,000 to UGX 3,000,000 and the presiden�al nomina�on fee was increased to UGX 20,000,000. Such fees are too high and push out many youth that harbour aspira�ons. Recommenda�on 2.1. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should propose amendment to the Na�onal Youth Council Act and the Parliamentary Elec�ons Act to provide for Two (2) Youth MPs per region, one of which must be female. Youth in Uganda are represented by only 5 MPs, yet they cons�tute 8.6 million Ugandans (22.9 percent of the total popula�on), which translates to approximately 46 percent of those eligible to vote in the 2021 general elec�ons. Unlike other special interest groups, youth are dispropor�onately represented in the various poli�cal structures, which has hampered effec�veness and accountability in representa�on. For instance, the mul�plica�on of districts from 39 in 1995 to over 140 in 2020 has enabled a fair representa�on of the women in the na�onal parliament while some other groups like the UPDF es�mated to be 100,000 in number is represented by 10 MPs. In addi�on to the 4 regional Youth MPs, youth are also represented by the Na�onal Female MP, whose cons�tuency is the whole country, making it logis�cally expensive. 2.2. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should propose amendments to the Na�onal Youth Council Act and the Parliamentary Elec�ons Act and abolish the Youth Electoral College System and have Youth MPs elected through adult suffrage The Electoral College system which is used to vote for Youth MPs and local government councillors deprives youth the opportunity to directly vote for their leaders and is neither used as an avenue for interest aggrega�on nor accountability by the youth leaders. Ahead of every elec�on, li�le is done by the Electoral Commission to provide the necessary informa�on and logis�cal support, making the system a ground for manipula�ve poli�cs, and denying the youth the opportunity to make informed choices. For instance, while the Electoral Commission in its 2021 Elec�on Roadmap commi�ed to conduct workshops for Special Interest Groups to sensi�ze and create awareness about the electoral process, this was never conducted, denying youth �mely and cer�fied informa�on regarding the SIG Youth Commi�ee elec�ons. 2.3. The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development should amend the Na�onal Youth Council Act to provide for a clear electoral structure for representa�ves of Youth with Disabili�es from the village to the na�onal Level The Na�onal Youth Council (Amendment) Act of 2003 provides for 19 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO representa�on of a Youth Persons with Disabili�es right from the Sub County/ Division/Municipality/ Town, district and Na�onal level. However, the representa�ves are recommended by an organiza�on for Persons with Disabili�es at each level. This should be amended to provide for an elected structure right from the village to the na�onal level. This will provide for effec�ve par�cipa�on of youth persons with disabili�es in the Structure’s electoral process, fairness of the process and accountable representa�on through the structure 2.4. The Ministry of Jus�ce and Cons�tu�onal Affairs should propose amendments to Parliamentary Elec�ons Act and propose a reduc�on of the Electoral Commission nomina�on fees for youth running for Presidency and Parliament. The nomina�on fees set by law for those intending to stand for Presidency and Member of Parliament are high for majority youth and limits the candidature of many deserving young people. The nomina�on fees should be re-instated to the original figures of UGX: 200,000 for Member of Parliament and UGX: 2,000,000 for President. 2.5. The Ministry of Jus�ce and Cons�tu�onal Affairs should propose amendments to Parliamentary Elec�ons Act and propose a reduc�on of the Electoral Commission nomina�on fees for youth running for Presidency and Parliament. The nomina�on fees set by law for those intending to stand for Presidency and Member of Parliament are high for majority youth and limits the candidature of many deserving young people. The nomina�on fees should be re-instated to the original figures of UGX: 200,000 for Member of Parliament and UGX: 2,000,000 for President. 2.6. Poli�cal Par�es should scrap nomina�on fees for youth at party primary elec�ons The nomina�on fees set by some poli�cal par�es for youth intending to stand for President and Member of Parliament are high for majority youth and limits the candidature of many deserving young people. 2.7. The President should appoint a Cabinet Minister for Youth Affairs The youths despite their numerical strength and vulnerabili�es are clamped under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, which is underresourced and overburdened by its huge cons�tuency of children, workers, women, elderly, and PwDs. The Ministry should be headed by a person in the youth bracket (18 – 30 years). 2.8. Poli�cal par�es should establish a Poli�cal Par�es’ Leadership Academy for young women There are low levels of subscrip�on of young women (rela�ve to young men) in poli�cal par�es, which, among other factors, underlines male dominance. Young women are not technically and logis�cally empowered to fully par�cipate in poli�cal par�es. 2.9. The Na�onal Youth Council should mandatorily be held at least twice a year as an interest aggrega�on and accountability forum for youth leaders Once elected, youth leaders at the various levels neither consult nor account to the electorate. For this reason, it is necessary for government to facilitate the convening of all the Youth Councils right from the village level to na�onal level at least twice a year with sufficient number of days. Government should also increase the funding for the Na�onal Youth Council from the current UGX: 1 billion to UGX: 10 billion to facilitate its ac�vi�es and electoral processes as well as involving them in Government programs. 20 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 03 EDUCATION AND SPORTS 21 a) THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Educa�on The Ministry of Educa�on implements the BTVET program intended to train and educate all individuals in need of BTVET with relevant skills that will raise their produc�vity and income. However, youth enrolment rate in BTVET is very low. Part of this is due to the low quality and poor reputa�on of many BTVET ins�tu�ons, but also because young people are not aware of TVET educa�on¹⁶. This coupled with a mixture of challenges are a hindrance to the a�ainment of quality educa�on that matches the required skills for employment. COVID-19 also exposed a weakness in the use of ICT to promoted educa�on. Recommenda�ons 3.1. The Ministry of Educa�on and Sports should adopt a comprehensive School Feeding Policy to provide free meals to learners to enhance adequate learning. 3.2. The Ministry of Educa�on and Sports should adopt and implement a Menstrual Health Policy for Girls in Primary and Secondary School; including provisions for providing free sanitary pads to all deserving girls. 3.3. The Ministry of Educa�on and Sports together with the Directorate of Industrial Trainings should popularise the free skills training opportuni�es available through UPPET and BTVET ins�tu�ons. 3.4. The Ministry of Educa�on and Sports should adopt and implement a schools ICT policy through which each student at secondary school level should receive a free laptop. 3.5. The ministry should also increase a share for enrolment of students with disabili�es in the public Universi�es through the Na�onal Disability Scheme to promote access to equitable educa�on. 16. Uganda Scooping Study Report 2019-Youth Employment Challenge 22 b) THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Sports Sport par�cipa�on has a posi�ve impact on youth development because it creates motor and sport-specific skills conver�ble into physical capital, improves health, fitness, and an overall sense of physical well-being, increases selfconfidence, self-esteem, and posi�ve body image, builds character in the form of discipline, teamwork, and responsibility. This is cri�cal for posi�ve youth development. Despite an augmented increase in the government funding to sports to a tune of UGX 16,550,353,776 in the FY 2018/19, there remains a deficit to support all sports ac�vi�es of the 48 compliant Na�onal Sports Associa�ons to nature talent and invest in sports infrastructure. Recommenda�ons 3.6 Capitalize and directly invest in sports, especially towards talent development, expanding venues community tourism, mo�va�ng patrio�sm and income genera�on in the sector. 3.7 Invest in sports infrastructure at the local and na�onal level including, securing land for sports grounds in each district. 17. Journal of Sport and Social Issues 35(3) 306–324 18. Na�onal Council of Sports annual report 2018/19State of Uganda Popula�on report 2018 23 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 04 HEALTH CARE FOR ALL 24 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Health Lack of access by the sexually ac�ve adolescent girls to sexual and reproduc�ve health informa�on educa�on and services, including contracep�on is a major factor contribu�ng to unplanned youth and teenage pregnancy and maternal deaths. Only 21 percent of the currently married girls aged 15- 19 years are using modern contracep�on with the unmet need for family planning at 30.4 percent19. Recommenda�ons 4.1. The Ministry of Health should develop, implement, and popularise the Reproduc�ve, Maternal, Newborn, Child and adolescent Health (RMNCAH) ac�on plan. Specifically the plan should spell out a strategy for scaling up Adolescent Sexual and Reproduc�ve Health response services to health centers and communi�es. 4.2. The Ministry of Health should support the produc�on and distribu�on of reusable pads to unprivileged school going girls as part of its sexual reproduc�ve minimum care package. 4.3. The Ministry of Health should also enhance mental health care services for young people within regional referral health care systems/networks through target financing by 2 percent to provide for preven�on and rehabilita�on programs or services. 19.State of Uganda Popula�on report 2018 4.4. The Ministry of Health should coordinate with the Ministry of Educa�on to ensure mandatory sign language lessons for medical students. This will help to mainstream sign language communica�on within the health system for Youth with Disabili�es who seek health services. 4.5. The Ministry of Health should expedite the passing, adop�on and roll-out of both the Na�onal Policy on Adolescent Health, and the Na�onal School Health Policy as frameworks for streamlining programming that is responsive to the peculiar health needs of adolescents in and out of school. 21% of the currently married girls aged 15- 19 years are using modern... contracep�on 25 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 05 CLIMATE ACTION AND YOUTH FRIENDLY CITIES 26 a) THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Climate Ac�on Youths commend Government for the efforts to fight and reduce the adverse impacts of climate change in Uganda by contribu�ng to the global calls towards climate Ac�on (SDG 13) and for signing global ins�tu�onal frameworks through the UNFCCC COPs among which include: the Paris Agreement (2016) and the Kyoto Protocol (2013). Uganda’s Na�onally Determined Contribu�ons (NDCs) are central to these global commitments as the Paris Agreement for ensuring that na�onal climate plans highlight climate ac�ons, including climate related targets, policies and measures. However, Uganda’s development frameworks are not explicit on how to address climate varia�ons, climate change and the role of youth. Recommenda�ons 5.1. The Office of the Prime Minister should expedite the Change Bill to enable effec�ve implementa�on that enhances the NDCs across 3 dimensions; Mi�ga�on, Adapta�on and Communica�on across all sectors which clear indicators for young people. 5.2. The Minister of Water and Environment should priori�se investment in adapta�on ac�ons to encourage youth par�cipa�on in promo�on of key sector steps towards Green House Gas emission reduc�on to achieve the below 2 percent emission country target along Agricultural extension pathway, renewable energy sources and technologies and promo�on of sustainable transport/ mobility op�ons in ci�es. 5.3. The Ministry of Water and Environment should deliberately focus on youths to engage in the restora�on and management of environment and natural resources by crea�ng opportuni�es for educa�on, wise use, and innova�on especially in forests and wetlands through school clubs, communi�es Development ini�ates, etc. to reduce clima�c risks and vulnerabili�es as droughts, and flooding etc, caused by climate change. 27 b) THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Youth Friendly Ci�es Kampala City has an es�mated day �me popula�on of 1.6 million people. Most of the popula�on is young people who migrate to the city to seek opportuni�es for employment, social ameni�es and leisure. Despite this surging popula�on, the city has grown organically without proper planning. The addi�on of extra 10 Ci�es approved by parliament in 2020 - are likely to face similar issues if plans are not in place for ensuring greening ci�es, crea�ng safe spaces, housing, transport etc to make the ci�es friendly to the growing youth popula�on. Recommenda�ons 5.4. The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development ought to capitalise on the implementa�on of the New Urban Agenda (2016) to further domes�cate taking ac�on for innova�ve, socially minded, green ci�es by clearly spelling out the role of youth in the Na�onal urban policy. 5.5. The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development should proac�vely ensure that the proposed Urban Development Policy mainstreams the involvement of young people in shaping the urban development path as well as developing their urban skills that enable them to become responsible leaders, create a sense of ci�zen ownership and support the realisa�on of integrated, inclusive and sustainable ci�es. 20. Uganda Bureau of Sta�s�cs (UBoS). 28 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 06 Financing the Youth Manifesto 2021 29 1. THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO Financing the Youth Manifesto 2021 We agree to the fact that all the above policy recommenda�ons/ asks require massive investment to be realised. We, therefore, provide viable alterna�ves to poli�cal actors and duty bearers on how and where we can get resources to finance the issues in this youth manifesto. Our recommenda�on is to enhance Domes�c Resource Mobilisa�on at both the na�onal and local government level; Recommenda�on 6.1 A fair and progressive taxa�on including having in place a comprehensive policy on tax incen�ves through streamlining the awarding, tracking and termina�ng of incen�ves. There should be deliberate effort to make sure that everyone pays their main fair share of taxes; especially Mul�na�onal Corpora�ons, enhancing the taxa�on of High Net worth Individuals, Improving tax collec�on/ administra�on at local government, Improving and implementa�on of the Domes�c Resource Mobilisa�on Strategy. 6.2 Na�onal Resource Revenue Collec�on and management through Effec�ve taxa�on of mining ac�vi�es in Uganda; i.e Gold and Oil Change of policy on Petroleum fund from only financing infrastructural development to also funding youth priority sectors, Increase transparency in the Oil and Gas industry (Monitor Adhering to the Extrac�ve Industries Transparency Ini�a�ve-EITI) 6.3 Debt management and sustainability because debt repayment and financing has an impact on key asks for youth (budget alloca�ons), government Internal borrowing makes credit finance expensive for youth as it leads to regressive tax regimes (Low hanging fruits-indirect taxes) that dispropor�onately affects young people. 30 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO MEMBER ORGANISATIONS AND PARTNERS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS MANIFESTO 1. African Youth Development Link (AYDL) 2. Uganda Youth Network (UYONET) 3. Open Space Centre (OSC) 4. Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs (UPFYA) 5. Show Abilities Uganda (SAU) 6. International Foundation for Recovery and Development (IFRAD) 7. Smart Girls Foundation (SGF) 8. Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) 9. Restless Development 10. West Nile Youth Empowerment Network 11. 11. Recreation for Peace and Development (RDP) 12. Sensitise Uganda 13. Youth for Tax Justice Network 14. TEENS Uganda 15. Eastern Uganda Civil Society Network 16. National Youth Advocacy Platform 17. Tororo District Advocacy Network 18. Grassroots Alliance for Rural Development 19. Mororto Community Initiative for Development 20. Tadoba Youth Foundation 21. Youth Forum for Social Justice 22. National Youth Organisation for Development 23. Girls to Lead Africa 24. Teso Youth Network 25. Youth Environment service 26. Change Lead Agency Social Support 27. Kolir Women Development 28. Ngabo Youth Friendly Services Centre 29. Allied Youth Initiative – Uganda 30. 256 Platform Uganda 31. Kayunga Youth Network 32. Hatua Uganda 33. Creation Forum Africa 34. Uganda Youth Guidance Development Associations 35. Palisa Civil Society Organisations’ Network 36. Masaka Youth Development Associations 37. Bugisu NGO Forum 38. Reproductive Health Uganda 39. Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum (UMYDF) 40. Inter-Faith Youth Network/InterReligious Council of Uganda 41.Kampala Youth Advocacy Network – KYADNET 42.Platform For Youth Inclusion in Politics-PYIP 43.Actionaid 31 THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS HAVE GIVEN TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRINTING COPIES OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO 2021-2026 1. RESTLESS DEVELOPMENT 2. ACTION AID UGANDA (THROUGH THE PLATFORM FOR YOUTH INCLUSION IN POLITICS) 3. THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE FACILITY (DGF) 4. DIAKONIA 5. EUROPEAN UNION; & OXFAM IN UGANDA 6. WESTMINISTER FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY 32 SECRETARIAT P.O. Box: 5364 Kampala-Uganda Address: Plot 2, Agape Close, N�nda Kigoowa. on kiwatule road Tel: +256 414 530 280 Email: info@aydl.org Website: www.aydl.org THE NATIONAL YOUTH MANIFESTO