Uganda - The Role Of The Youth In Political Party Development

Throughout history, young men have been usednecessary checks, and above all; whether it is
as the heart of political parties - acting as bothimpermeable to allow the youth demonstrate their
young democrats and militant wing. Lately,leadership potential
women also went aboard. They sustained theThe DP is one party that relishes the youth as its
political parties' "lives" while out of power, andvehicle into the future, voluntarily defend party
worked to celebrate with it in power.goals, express and demonstrate their political
Uganda young people were critical in the strugglerights -and on behalf of Ugandans -while, also,
for independence. Through political parties likespeaking for the voiceless. These unique features
Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and Kabakkaare no where in other parties. Most political parties
Yekka (KY), they relentlessly advocated to freein Uganda are comfortable with old folks and do
Uganda of foreign rule.anything to suffocate the youth's influence.
Their energetic selves and ability to take risksThe NRM that could follow DP in that regard is like
helped in organizing and executing political rallies ina person who hosts a visitor, but does not allow
the country side, and made strategic alliances thathim or her cross the door to a sitting room.
ensured success of the independence bid. ThoseRather, chooses to have any entertainment with
who engineered the struggle were youngthem, in the compound.
charismatic Ugandan youth. They managedAnd the youth usually get come in response for
successful political rallies that readied Ugandans forwar drums -when Kizza Besigye makes a shock
independence.political pose to the regime. Unlike DP -where
In the pre-colonial times, the youth wereyouth act voluntarily, in NRM, they are paid. This is
providers of security to the community ornot sustainable. This, still, presents DP as the most
kingdoms. Political parties today too could beyouth friendly party. It is capable of taking its
banking on the youth to mobilize other others,youth for a meeting as far as the bedroom.
rally majority support to it, and in protection ofFor Forum for Democratic change (FDC), the
votes against rigging.youth presence therein is like in boxing -where
UPC had the youth league, while the rest Ugandaafter a long of one being undisputed champion as
People's Movement (UPM) and Democratic Partyif no more challenger left, people get bored and
(DP) -where themselves, the youth. Uponbegin disliking the whole state of affairs.
dissatisfaction from the 1980 elections, UPM andLuckily, one man stands up and says, "Come and
DP young men and women went to the Bushsee. Come on and support me. I am going to fight
-fight UPC out of power.and defeat this man. Hey! Come and check out."
And because of the youth power, among otherThis is how the youth might have ended up in
things, UPM turn National Resistance MovementFDC.
(NRM) and DP were victors in a war against anIt seems from the strategic alliance made shortly
elected government of Late A.M. Obote, andbefore independence, DP chaps thought nothing of
together formed a government -famouslyvalue about it -whilst boasting of popularity in the
referred to as broad-based government.mainly central Ugandan and some parts of
Perhaps, Busoga support for a young Kyabazingaeastern Uganda.
could be of much value in as far as developmentIt seemed as though the thinking was that one
and putting across kingdom pertinent issues is-who was victor in central would take it all. The
concerned. As a youthful Kyabazinga, he couldsubject of coalitions, therefore, remains alien to
want to see, for- example, all kingdom propertythem. It is no surprise, there fore, that they are
controlled by it and helping register Busoganow not subscribing to it.
presence at local and international scene. And, atOn the other hand, where arms would involved,
the same time uniting Busoga for developmentthe youth are capable of wrecking havoc,
actions.terrorizing masses, triggering mass killings, maiming
Kyabazingaship too should be able to attractand raping, destruction of infrastructure and taking
foreign visitors -resultant from its influence. Andcountry to several years back from the current
signing and ensuring common protective policieslevel of development. Observers say Uganda is
with other kingdoms that would preserve theover thirty years behind Malaysia and Indonesia in
integrity of Busoga. This would be the true senseas far as their development levels are concerned.
of the return and presence of tradition institutionsMoreover, It would be more likely for young men
in Ugandan rather than a mere conversation aboutto have unlimited power in the running of
it.government. There fore, dictatorship could be
Unlike with the elderly politicians, who struggle tomore from them than out of youth category
preserve status quo, for the youth would think(elderly) -where a person with initially good
and act for reform, rather than sit to "baby sit"intentions turns out to be oppressive and
hands. They would always want to search andundemocratic.
experiment new political or leadership ideas andHe could expectedly suspend the constitution and
implement them to meet sky-rocketed visions.rule by decree. Life presidency would, actually,
Also, they would be out and forth to defend theirbegin here with the youth -and with nepotism, as
political party goals, and even want to sacrifice lifethough a monarch. It can be observed that future
in the process.dictators might have taken the throne as youths.
They would be highly strategic in either findingAt this stage and with addiction to power along
their way into government or consolidating politicalthe reign, a return to democratic rule could be
party's rule. And they could want to do anythingmore a dream than reality. Anarchy and apathy
to that effect -be it rigging elections violence andcould, then, be the ultimate.
intimidation, formation of coalitions, and power-They could be very unpredictable -who would
sharing -in case of general elections.with ease shift away from one ideology to
Mass youth political pressure could be so powerfulanother depending on what political youth peers or
that no tear gas could easily break them down.night dreams say. And implementation would be
They always have their country at heart -and areby decree.
willing to struggle up to the last minute. 2011, forThe shift across political ideology by youths
example, would come as an opportunity for-whose political parties are out of power, could
political victory of the youth. This gives them analso as popular as to defect from one political
earliest period to take action. People sayparty to another -where there is more youth
knowledge is power, but in this case, the youthfriendliness.
are a power, and must exercise it.The main worry with young people could be that
But success of youth movements would alsothey are opportunistic. Their ambitions are usually
depend on the health organizational structures ofa combination of intuition, partly in response to
their political parties -that answers questions aboutadolescent changes -with desire for identity.
flexibility to changing times, whether it easily dealsEconomic reason would be the other -something
with external pressures or challenges, whether itthat has to do with need for employment. For
has able widely acceptable leadership (internalthem, they are always ready to take on the
democracy), whether it carries out periodicalchallenges and chances.
survey about its strength and carry out