The youth have asked government to consider reducing nomination fees for both Presidential and Parliamentary candidates, noting that the current fees are discriminatory with an aim of pushing them out of elective posts.
The youth made the call on Friday during a plenary session held for the National Youth Parliament ahead of the International Youth Day slated for Sunday August 12, 2018.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga agreed with the youths, arguing that there is need to review the nomination fees.
“I support you on the issue of nomination fees. Although I can afford it, I don’t like it. It is denial of access to public office because you can’t get nominated; you can’t compete so it is wrong….Let us review it to at least Shs400,000 [for Parliament] so people of Uganda can have access to public office,” Kadaga said.
It should be noted that ahead of the 2016 General elections, MPs voted overwhelmingly passed into law the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Act 2015 and Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Act 2015 which saw the presidential candidate nomination fee increased to Shs20M, from the original Shs8M, while nomination fees for MPs was increased from Shs200,000 to Shs2M.
The youth also asked government to address youth unemployment and Parliament to fast track the Sexual Offenses Bill, which they say would help protect them from sexual harassment from places of work.
