Factors affecting youth participation in electoral processes in Uganda: case study of Kampala district

Abstract

The study investigated the factors affecting youth participation in electoral processes in Uganda with a specific focus on Kampala (Lubaga, Kawempe, and Nakawa divisions). The specific objectives of the study were to assess the effect of institutional provisions for capacity support on youth participation in the electoral process in Uganda; to establish the effect of education and training on youth participation in the electoral process in Uganda; and to assess the role of the media on youth participation in the electoral process in Uganda. The study adopted a descriptive survey using a questionnaire and focus group discussions as well as an interview guide to collect primary data from 280 respondents. In the quantitative survey of 274 respondents, 86 (31.4%), 104 (38.0%), and 84 (30.7%) of respondents were from Lubaga, Kawempe, and Nakawa divisions, respectively; most of the respondents (76.6%) were registered voters who participated and voted (76.3%) in the 2021 general elections. The findings reveal that institutional provisions had not supported capacity development to allow youth participation in the electoral process in Uganda with an overall mean of 4.278047. The youths were not receiving the necessary education and training to facilitate their participation in the electoral process with an overall mean of 3.73. The study revealed that the media plays a critical role in the empowerment of youth, with information and knowledge of political gaps accounting for an overall mean of 1.56. The study concludes that the opportunities for youth to engage in governance and participate in political and decision-making processes depend primarily on the political, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts of Uganda and its social norms. The study recommends training young people through institutions like universities to develop a more robust culture of dialogue among youth members to better influence Ugandan political and social leadership and reduce violent politics in universities; the need to promote an enabling environment (legal frameworks, policies, and plans) for young people’s participation in a broad range of processes and areas (electoral and parliamentary processes, public administration, and local governance, including in peace-building environments) at local, sub-national, and national levels