BY OUR REPORTER
The National Youth Cadres Association (NYCA) officially launched its Strategic Plan for FY2026/2027 at Nakasero Primary School Playground, under the theme “The Role of Youth in Advancing Tenfold Growth Strategy, Climate Change Mitigation, and Environmental Conservation.”
The plan is anchored on empowering young people to drive socioeconomic transformation through innovation, value addition, and climate-smart solutions.
Guests and Attendance
The event was graced by the Senior Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Hon. Moses Byaruhanga, who attended as chief guest. He was joined by representatives of State House’s Anti-Corruption Unit, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), the Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA), NRM chapter leaders, guild presidents, and student delegations from universities including Makerere, Kyambogo, Kabale, Central Buganda, Mutesa I Royal, and Team University, among others.
Opening Remarks
Hafashimana Asiimwe, District Youth Chairman for Sheema District and a member of the National Youth Council, opened proceedings by invoking the legacy of Burkinabé revolutionary Thomas Sankara on linking political education to civic duty, and referenced former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda’s remarks on sacrifice and leadership. He urged youth leaders to focus on what unites them rather than what divides them, and to see their presence at the launch as a call to purpose rather than coincidence.
Anti-Corruption Unit
A representative of State House’s Anti-Corruption Unit, speaking on behalf of Gen. Henry Tumukunde Isoke, commended NYCA’s leadership and pledged the unit’s continued partnership with youth groups in the fight against corruption. He emphasized that corruption “eats at the foundation of the country” and called on young people to actively report corrupt practices, noting that the fight requires collective effort across government agencies, the IGG, police, and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
PPDA Remarks
Ronald Tumuhairwe, Local Content Manager at PPDA, outlined the authority’s support for youth participation in public procurement. Key points included:
Public procurement accounts for roughly 65% of the national budget spent on goods and services annually.
Under PPDA’s 2024 reservation scheme guidelines, government entities must reserve at least 15% of annual procurement budgets for youth-owned enterprises and other marginalized groups.
Procurements below UGX 30 million (central government) and UGX 10 million in some categories are reserved specifically for youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
Youth entrepreneurs under the scheme are exempted from bid securities and bidding document fees.
In the last financial year, about 4,124 contracts worth UGX 84 billion were awarded to youth, women, and PWD-owned enterprises across government entities; of these, 2,847 contracts worth roughly UGX 59 billion went to youth-owned enterprises, still below the 15% target.
PPDA committed to continued advocacy for a Youth Enterprise Fund under the Uganda Development Bank and closer collaboration with government institutions to improve compliance with the reservation scheme.
NYCA Savings Circle Report
Emmanuel Ruguru, Vice Chairperson of NYCA, presented on the association’s savings and investment circle, formed to promote financial inclusion, job creation, and support for youth-led enterprises. The circle has ventured into wine production, dairy value addition, and small retail trade, and has acquired livestock despite lacking dedicated land. He cited unemployment among members and inadequate office space as key challenges, and appealed to the chief guest for land to establish a demonstration farm for youth agricultural training.
Chairperson’s Strategic Plan Presentation
NYCA National Chairperson Mr. Penkson, presented the association’s strategic direction. Founded in 2016 and legally registered, NYCA works to mobilize young people around social transformation, environmental conservation, wealth creation, anti-corruption, and HIV awareness. He noted the association’s role in disseminating information on government programs such as the Parish Development Model, the Youth Livelihood Programme, and the Presidential Skilling Hubs.
Under the FY2026/2027 plan, NYCA’s priorities include:
Completing the association’s ongoing national tree-planting campaign (part of a broader 27-billion-tree initiative).
Establishing greenhouses in every region to address seedling shortages.
Strengthening youth leadership and civic participation.
Promoting digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
Building institutional capacity and partnerships.
Strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and accountability systems.
He identified transportation costs, inadequate office space, and seedling shortages as the association’s main operational challenges, and appealed to government agencies, the private sector, and development partners for support.
Remarks by the Chief Guest
Representing the NRM Secretary General, Hon. Moses Byaruhanga addressed the gathering on the historical role of youth in Uganda’s development, from the liberation struggle to national immunization and Universal Primary Education (UPE) campaigns that expanded access to school-going children from low-income families.
He turned to the Parish Development Model (PDM) as the government’s central vehicle for youth economic empowerment, noting that youth are entitled to a 30% share of PDM funding at the parish level, in addition to opportunities available under the wider women and persons-with-disabilities allocations. He observed that uptake has varied significantly by area, with Kampala performing comparatively well, and urged youth leaders to engage more actively through Parish Development Committees, of which parish youth council chairpersons are members, to ensure funds are properly accessed and accounted for.
He encouraged young people to prioritize self-employment and income generation over waiting for formal jobs, arguing that entrepreneurs who employ themselves also create jobs for others. He closed by urging youth to take fuller ownership of the opportunities already provided under government programs, including the Youth Livelihood Fund and PDM, and to strengthen coordination through structures such as the National Youth Council.
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