Youth Urged to Utilize National Budget Opportunities to Align their Aspirations for Growth

On 18^th June 2026, Youth organizations including their umbrella organization called National Youth Advocacy Platform (NYAP) and convened the maiden Youth Post dialogue organized by Wilmat Development Foundation and partners, aimed at aligning youth aspirations with the national budget priorities. 

During the youth dialogue held at Unicef conference hall in Mbuya Kampala, Commissioner Mondo Kyamateka from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development launched the National Youth Budget Position Paper for FY 2026/27, marking a strategic shift from pre-budget advocacy to post-budget accountability as implementation of the national budget begins.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ali Tagoole, the Assistant Commissioner for Budget Policy and Evaluation, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development told the youth that when government established a mechanism to bring on board civil society organizations (CSOs) to participate in the budget processes, it opened up access to CSOs such as youth organizations to align with the budget priorities inviting NYAP leadership to join the Budget Transparency Partnership framework to reshape the budget skewed to the youth.

He told the youth leaders to ensure that they position their members to utilize existing opportunities in the budget allocations, and participate in the budget processes, leveraging on government support programs including skilling, labor market networks, affordable capital promotion, self-employment support among others.

“The youth platforms need to appreciate budget processes to establish an entry point on when and how to get involved so that the aspiration are aligned to the budget priorities. You need to inform government on what you want. Government is empowering youth in various skilling programs, connection to labor markets, investment in enables of productivity, support to self-employment with starting tools” he said

Group photo of youth representative with Giest of Honour from Ministry of Finance Assistant Commissioner Ali Tangoole.

He mentioned different government support programs that the youth can tap into including wealth funding grants in the ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development, ICT service enhancements, the high tech city to be established, BPO opportunities, economic free zones, industrial parks infrastructures, human capital skilling among others.

Evelyn Zalwango, Programme Coordinator NYAP highlighted that there is a need to ensure that the formulated youth friendly policies are fast trucked such as the Youth Startup Bill to enhance youth advocacy and incentives.

The theme for the dialogue was “Bridging Youth Aspiration and National Budget Priorities for Inclusive and Climate Change Resilience Development” 

The represented from UCOBAC, Ms. Brenda Kawala underscored the critical link between land and youth empowerment highlighting how secure and equitable access to land remains central to meaningful youth participation in economic development.

The dialogue also attracted representatives from government, CSOs such as CSBAG, Youth organizations like Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO Uganda), CIDi, TAHI, CEDOVIP among others.