Uganda is a country defined by its youth. A majority of its population is under 35, yet political power remains concentrated among leaders who have governed for decades.

That contradiction took center stage during The 77 Percent Street Debate, where young politicians, activists and analysts questioned whether Uganda's political system allows meaningful youth participation.

Uganda's parliament has more than 550 members, but only five seats are reserved for youth representatives, a fraction that panelists said does not reflect the country's demographics.

While the constitution recognizes the youth as a "special interest group," critics argue that the acknowledgement limits their influence rather than expands it.

"We are under a military regime that has intentionally structured the young people into a corner," one participant said, reflecting a view shared by several speakers who described the political environment as restrictive.

Uganda's January election faces systemic hurdles

Uganda is a constitutional republic that regularly holds elections and the next general election is scheduled for January 15, 2026. President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is running for reelection.

Lawyer and former presidential aspirant Yvonne Mpambara described her failed attempt to contest the presidency as an example of systemic barriers faced by young leaders without deep financial or political networks.

"We feel the system was not transparent in terms of what the clear criteria for determining who gets nominated is," Mpambara said, adding that her campaign struggled to meet nomination requirements, including collecting signatures from supporters nationwide amid a heavy security presence.

"There was a lot of security on the ground that was sabotaging efforts in terms of stealing supporter forms, in terms of stealing files," Mpambara explained. After losing thousands of signatures, she said the Electoral Commission dismissed her complaint.

"They still frustrated us and didn't give us a clear criteria for why they're not endorsing us."

Youth need more than political ambition

Youth leader Churchill Santamu said ambition alone is not enough to survive Uganda's political process. "You have the ambition, you have the zeal, you have the knowledge, you have the support, but you don't have the technical help to continue," Santamu said.

Political researcher and commentator Yusuf Sserunkuma argued that Uganda's governance system prioritizes political continuity over openness.

"We live under modern autocracy," he said. "What you're witnessing is efforts geared towards sustaining the status quo, not meant to open up for young people."

Serunkuma said election laws, including costly nomination processes and organizational requirements, tend to favor long-established politicians. "The criterion is designed for those who have been active for the last five years," he said.

The role of money and violence

Several speakers said money and violence further narrow political space. They argued that campaigns are costly and that young people are often mobilized during elections without gaining real decision-making power.

"Young people have been weaponized in this political landscape," one participant said.

Claims that youth lack the maturity to govern were widely rejected, with Santamu arguing that leadership ability is not age-dependent. "Maturity is entirely bestowed upon the person," he said. "The system itself is crippled in its own mandate."

Young women face additional challenges. Despite affirmative-action seats for women in parliament, panelists said younger women rarely rise to national prominence. "When they see a gap above and they try to rise up, the system is set up such that they never break through," one speaker said.

President Museveni's dominance in Uganda

Panelists also discussed how decades of leadership under President Museveni have shaped the public perceptions of authority.

"If you ask any random Ugandan you meet on the street ... 'Who is a leader?' — You can be sure that the majority are describing Museveni," Mpambara said. 

"The say [it is] a military man who is a certain age and who behaves a certain way," referring to Museveni, according to Mpambara's esteem.

As the debate turned to solutions, views diverged. Some called for reforms to campaign financing, stronger institutions and civic education. Others argued that bigger political change is needed.

"Our problems are not technical," Serunkuma said. "Our problems are political."

One lingering question captured the uncertainty facing Uganda's next generation. "Why should the slightly older people be the custodians of that power?" one speaker asked. "What happens when they die? Who is going to lead when they're gone?"

This article was adapted from a DW 77 Percent Street Debate. You can find more such debates here