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BY EDITOR
MOROTO — Young leaders from across Karamoja have renewed calls for greater involvement in governance, arguing that meaningful youth participation is essential if the sub-region is to overcome decades of poverty and fully benefit from its vast natural resources.
The call was made during the second edition of the Karamoja Youth Parliament held at the Moroto District Chamber Hall under the theme, “Enhancing Youth Inclusion in Governance and Decision-Making Processes.” The gathering brought together youth representatives, district leaders and development partners to deliberate on the challenges facing young people and propose practical solutions.
Beyond discussions on governance, education emerged as one of the most pressing concerns. The Minister of Education for the Karamoja Youth Parliament tabled a motion highlighting low education levels and persistent school dropout rates across the sub-region. Supporting the motion, Abim Female Youth Councillor Hon. Awilli Linda said many children continue to leave school early, undermining the region’s long-term development.
The debate produced several resolutions. Moses Lokwang from Kaabong called for affirmative action to make education free and compulsory across Karamoja. He also urged government to prioritise fencing schools to improve security and appealed for closer collaboration with the World Food Programme to strengthen school feeding programmes and keep more children in classrooms.
Speaking on behalf of development partners including ACODE, MUCOBADI, RIAMRIAM and the Media Challenge Initiative, Restless Development Hub Director Gabriel Iguma said young people must be part of the decisions that determine the future of the region. He said the organisation is working across Karamoja to strengthen youth participation in governance while building the capacity of young people to engage in public affairs, monitor service delivery and influence policy at district and national levels.
Moroto District LCV Chairperson Pulkol Anjello, Uganda’s youngest district chairperson, challenged young people to reject the negative narratives that have long defined Karamoja.
“Whatever affects the youth affects me also,” he said.
Anjello described Karamoja as “the richest place on earth” because of its mineral deposits, but questioned why many of its people continue to live in poverty. He called on district leaders to allocate more resources towards youth programmes and encouraged young people to embrace unity rather than ethnicity, saying peaceful coexistence has always been part of Karamoja’s heritage.
The newly elected Speaker of the Karamoja Youth Parliament, Hon. Joseph Lochoro, pledged to use his office to advance the interests of young people across the sub-region. He reminded fellow youth representatives that their responsibility is to serve their communities rather than themselves, adding that the Youth Parliament would continue advocating for increased youth representation in local leadership structures.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Moroto, Justine Tuko, praised development partners for supporting the initiative, saying platforms such as the Youth Parliament give young people an opportunity to identify their own challenges and propose lasting solutions. He encouraged partners to hold the Youth Parliament every two months or at least quarterly to maintain dialogue on issues affecting young people in Karamoja.
The conversations in Moroto reflected a broader challenge facing Karamoja. With one of Uganda’s youngest populations, the region continues to grapple with low literacy levels, high school dropout rates and limited opportunities for youth to influence decisions affecting their future. Participants argued that as investment in Karamoja’s mineral resources gathers pace, young people must also have a voice in decisions on education, land, budgeting, environmental protection and development.
Longom Francis-Contributor
