By John Kibalizi
Wakiso district youth under their different political parties have criticised the National Resistance Movement (NRM) for neglecting their district despite its contribution to the 33 years of President Yoweri Museveni’ s governance.
The district, carved out of Mpigi, was at the epicentre of the National Resistance Army (NRA) rebels attempt to overthrow Milton Obote’s government in the Bush War 1981-1986.
While NRM bigwigs, including President Yoweri Museveni, congregated in Tororo to mark 33-years of since attaining state power, the youth argue their district has been forgotten.
The youth listed land grabbing, lack of employment opportunities and poor educational outlets as among the many problems holding back their district. The youth decried how many of their parents and grandparents have lost land to powerful people in government who use their influence to deprive them of their rights.
A Wakiso youth leader David Kiguli pointed out that one of the few programs the youth are gaining from called the Youth Livelihood Program has also been threatened. He warned that if this program is interfered with, youth in the district will be among the most hard hit.
Kiguli warned the government that if it does not come up with innovative programs to engage the youth, criminality will rise all over Uganda.
He asked the government to seriously consider investing in technical schools that can pass on skills to the youth who are largely unemployed. Various statistics have put Uganda’s youth unemployment at a worrying 80%.
The youth said Wakiso had almost nothing to show for the first 33 years of NRM rule and this should not continue.
