Kampala, Uganda: Gold Ikyiriza, a Ugandan youth leader and advocate has officially entered the race for National Female Youth MP (2026–2031) on the NRM ticket, after successfully picking nomination forms on Friday, June 13, from the ruling party headquarters in Kampala.
The development comes just two days after the former Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA) Vice President Wednesday declared her official bid to contest for the position with a bold agenda to push for an independent Youth Ministry in the coming elections.
Ikyiriza took her socials on Friday to announce the development, emphasizing the urgent need for legislative solutions to youth unemployment, policy influence, and structural reforms within youth representation frameworks.
“We expressed our interest for contesting under the NRM ticket as the National Female Youth MP 2026–2031,” she wrote. “To address the issue of having a Unified Youth Act for all youth structures, demanding for an Independent Youth Ministry… to influence policy at a legislative level and build transparency and accountability within us.”
Ikyiriza’s bid highlights the increasing calls among young people for stronger institutional engagement, creation of a National Youth Network, and economic empowerment through education, skilling, and innovation support.
In her statement, she cited the need to directly tackle the staggering 51.6% of Ugandan youth aged 15–30 who are categorized as NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training). “We kindly seek for your support in this journey,” she concluded.
Ikyiriza joins a growing field of contenders for the influential youth parliamentary position under the NRM ticket. Others who have declared interest and picked forms include Siyemah Atukunda, a civic educator and youth mobilizer, Diana Ampaire Kampe, Kanyesige Mercy, Susan Katusiime and Fiona Nakku, among others.
The party primaries for youth positions, scheduled for August 2025, are expected to draw intense competition, as the National Female Youth MP slot has traditionally been a springboard for women leaders seeking national visibility and future ministerial appointments.
Key among those who have gone on to secure ministerial appointments is current National Female Youth MP, Hon Phiona Nyamutoro, who is the state minister for minerals under the Energy Ministry docket.
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