Kampala, Uganda: The ruling National Resistance Movement youth member, Gold Ikyiriza, has declared her official bid and candidature for the position of National Female Youth MP, unveiling a bold youth-centered manifesto that proposes the creation of a fully-fledged Ministry of Youth that will address the pressing needs of Uganda’s largest demographic.
Speaking at her launch at Fairway Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday, June 11, Ikyiriza, a seasoned youth leader and former UNSA Vice President 2024, declared her intent to lead what she described as a “golden era” for Uganda’s youth.
The former Makerere GRC emphasized that Uganda’s young people are underrepresented and underserved despite constituting the majority of the population. “We even lack an independent ministry as the youth of this country. How best can we have our issues addressed without direct policy space? The time is now to push for structural change,” Ikyiriza stated.
Addressing an enthusiastic audience of youth leaders drawn from across Uganda, Ikyiriza, 24, said her bid stems from a desire to correct systemic failures that have left over 64% of Ugandan youth unemployed and struggling with poverty, early pregnancies, and limited participation in governance.
“We are a generation in transition, and it is us who will be held accountable for the future. We must lead, solve, and bring synergies to lift our communities,” she said, adding that the youth should actively monitor government programs like Emyooga, the Parish Development Model, and the Youth Livelihood Program to ensure equitable access and delivery.
Ms Ikyiriza also vowed to champion the rights of girls and young women across the country, pledging to fight teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and gender-based exclusion in leadership. “We have launched the campaign of a golden era in Uganda. We believe it will serve the needs of the young people, and recover the dignity and future of the youth in this country,” she said.
Her call for a dedicated Youth Ministry gained strong backing from Luzinda Henry, the Wakiso District NRM Youth Chairperson, who endorsed Ikyiriza’s candidature at the same event. “Uganda’s youth need a dedicated voice, and that’s what Gold represents,” he said.
Luzinda explained that Ikyiriza’s idea of an independent Ministry of Youth is bold and long overdue. “We can’t accept having a Youth Minister who isn’t even a youth. Ikyiriza is the right candidate and comes at the right time.”
“Gold understands the needs of the youth beyond slogans. Her leadership history, right from UNSA to Makerere, shows she’s walked the talk. If we want a future where youth policy is not an afterthought, she’s the leader to entrust with that responsibility,” he added.
Ikyiriza bid comes at a time when Uganda’s youth leadership structures have undergone elections from village to district level, and national youth leadership contests are heating up ahead of the 2026 general elections.
She is expected to battle it out with other contestants, including Siyemah Atukunda, Kanyesigwe Mercy, Katusiime Susan, Diana Ampaire Kampe, and Phionah Nakku, among others, for the NRM flag in the August NRM Primaries.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative anews platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp for realtime updates.
