With the 2026 elections coming soon, Youth Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Uganda are working harder than ever to ensure young people are involved in the process. On 6th March 2025, the National Youth Working Group (NYWG) brought together several youth organisations and officials from the Electoral Commission (EC). Under the theme: “The Role of Youth Civil Society in the 2026 Elections: Enhancing Participation and Collaboration”, the meeting aimed to get more young people voting and to support those who want to run for office. During the meeting, attendees shared concerns about low voter turnout among young people in past elections.
Despite Uganda’s very young population, many didn’t vote. “We’ve seen many young people feel left out or fed up with the system,” one youth participant said. “Some don’t have enough information, while others just don’t trust the process.” To fix this, the group agreed that voter education needs to start early, especially using social media, online campaigns, and community visits. They also suggested holding workshops to help young people understand how voting works and why it matters.
Miriam Mutesi, the Executive Director of Youth Chaperon, cited a problem of information sharing from the electoral commission. “EC shares information on voting ‘on’ social media, but many rural youths are left behind due to a lack of smartphone access,” she said.
Musa Kasozi, from Youth After School Initiative (YASI), raised a financial challenge that makes it hard for young people to engage in politics. “Many young people want to get involved but simply can’t afford it. Nomination fees and campaign expenses are too high for most young people, which stops them from becoming leaders,” he said. However, the group called for changes in election laws to reduce the cost of campaigning and to create support programmes that boost young candidates vying for positions financially.
Maria Agnes, from the Open Space Centre, stressed the importance of reaching out to young people who are not in school. “More than half of our youth are out of school. If we don’t go to them, we’re missing a huge part of the population,” she said. She suggested door-to-door campaigns and community meetings to connect with them directly.
The Electoral Commission agreed that they can’t do it alone and welcomed support from youth groups. They promised to use their limited resources wisely and ensure voter education reaches all corners of the country. They also committed to helping voters and candidates prepare for the elections fairly and inclusively. Participants resolved to improve digital outreach using tools like podcasts, social media, and online videos to engage more young people. Civil society groups also said they would work more closely with the government, development partners, and the media to ensure young people have the information and support they need.
Peter Bogere, a civic education and social expert, said youth face manipulation and tokenism across the political divide. “Statistics show a declining interest in election engagement. If people don’t show up, they’re losing interest,” he said.
Mr. Gabriel Iguma, the Hub Director at Restless Development Uganda, said young people must be responsible for shaping Uganda’s future. “We have to give them the right tools and information. For that to happen, we must stay coordinated and organised,” he said. We must be coordinated and organised to contribute to meaningful youth engagement (MYE) in the electoral process,” he concluded.
The National Youth Working Group (NYWG) was established in February 2011 in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, UNFPA, the National Youth Council, War Child UK, and Restless Development. It is an informal platform for shared learning on youth issues that addresses the challenge of poor coordination in the youth sector.
