As Uganda edges closer to the National Youth Council elections, a heated debate is unfolding over who qualifies as “youth,” with senior political actors facing accusations of attempting to sneak in overage candidates to contest for leadership roles.
Jacob Eyeru, chairperson of the National Youth Council, has sounded a firm warning: no one above the age of 30 is allowed to vote or stand in these elections.
“The days of using influence and force to front candidates outside the youth age bracket are gone,” Eyeru told the Nile Post in an exclusive interview.
“The law clearly states who a youth is, and no one can undermine the qualifications needed.”
His remarks come amid reports that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is considering extending the definition of youth to include individuals up to 35 years old.
NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi defended the proposal, saying the party intends to retain its hold on the politically active 31–35 age group.
“We cannot close out the young people aged 31 to 35. We are considering them as youth in the party for mobilisation purposes,” Odoi said.
Still, under the National Youth Council Act, only Ugandans aged between 18 and 30 qualify to participate in youth council elections. This legal framework remains unchanged, even as internal party debates continue.
The Electoral Commission has already begun compiling the youth voters’ register nationwide. Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi urged young people to take an active role in verifying the voter lists to prevent manipulation.
“If the youth question some people, then they should point them out. We have a tribunal at each parish to investigate such cases and ensure those outside the age brackets are removed from the register,” Mucunguzi said.
But despite the legal clarity and institutional mechanisms in place, fears persist that political interference and voter apathy could allow older individuals—sometimes without proper identification—to slip through the cracks and win positions meant for the youth.
The upcoming elections will test both the strength of the law and the resolve of young voters to defend their space in Uganda’s political architecture.
As debate continues over redefining youth in party structures, the legal definition remains the final arbiter in determining who gets to lead.