By Andrew Kyazze
Kampala, Uganda — As the 2026 general elections draw nearer, the race for Uganda’s National Female Youth Member of Parliament seat is intensifying, and one name continues to echo across youth circles — Nakku Phiona. Her growing influence is reshaping conversations about youth leadership, political inclusion, and the role of young women in national decision-making.
Emerging as one of the strongest contenders under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Nakku has built her campaign on a promise to transform youthful aspirations into tangible outcomes.
Her candidacy is anchored in a conviction that the youth, who make up the majority of Uganda’s population, should no longer be viewed as passive beneficiaries of policy but as active architects of the country’s socio-economic transformation.
Her political message has found resonance among diverse segments of the youth population — from university students in Kampala to rural farming cooperatives in districts such as Mbale, Mbarara, and Gulu. Many are drawn not only to her articulate vision but also to her track record of direct engagement in community initiatives.
For years, she has been on the ground, coordinating youth skilling programs, mentoring young women in leadership, and advocating for education reforms that match the evolving demands of the labour market.
Nakku’s leadership style is rooted in empathy and what she describes as “servant leadership.” This approach, she believes, is the missing ingredient in youth representation.
She has consistently argued that leadership should be measured not by political rhetoric or visibility at high-profile events, but by the concrete impact one makes in people’s lives. Supporters point to her habit of following up on issues raised during community visits, often working quietly to connect young people to opportunities or resources that address their challenges.
Speaking during a recent engagement with youth groups in Lira, Nakku reiterated her stance that Uganda’s socio-economic transformation can only succeed if young people are fully equipped to participate in it.
She expressed strong support for President Yoweri Museveni’s Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that its goals align closely with her vision of empowering youth to transition from subsistence to commercial productivity.
“The future is not a promise — it is a responsibility,” she told the gathering. “We cannot inherit it unprepared. We must build it ourselves,” she added.
Central to her campaign are three interconnected priorities: education and skills development, economic empowerment, and strengthened youth participation in policymaking.
She has called for more robust investments in vocational and technical training, the expansion of youth enterprise financing through SACCOs and start-up support schemes, and the creation of formal platforms for youth to contribute to national policy discussions.
Her proposals include innovative funding mechanisms to unlock credit for youth-led businesses and targeted interventions for young women entrepreneurs.
Her vision has particularly resonated with young women, many of whom feel underrepresented in leadership spaces. Nakku has openly acknowledged the additional barriers female youth face, including gender-based violence, limited access to capital, and inadequate reproductive health services.
She has pledged to champion legislation and programs that directly address these issues, arguing that the progress of young women is essential to the progress of the nation.
Political analysts note that Nakku’s rise is partly due to her ability to connect across both rural and urban constituencies, blending the accessibility of a grassroots mobiliser with the savvy of a digital-era communicator.
Her social media presence is not limited to campaign messaging; she frequently uses it to spotlight youth innovators, amplify community initiatives, and share opportunities for training and funding. This approach has widened her appeal beyond party lines and positioned her as a relatable figure to young Ugandans navigating a rapidly changing economic landscape.
At various campaign events, supporters have described her as a leader who speaks “with” the youth rather than “about” them. This distinction, they argue, is why she has managed to attract backing from a broad coalition of student leaders, community organisers, young professionals, and even apolitical youth who had previously been disengaged from electoral politics.
“She listens, she follows up, and she delivers,” said one youth activist from Jinja. “That’s rare in politics.”
Nakku’s campaign slogan, “Together We Rise,” reflects her belief in collective progress over individual ambition. She frequently reminds her audiences that her pursuit of the National Female Youth MP seat is not an end in itself but a means to secure greater space, voice, and power for the youth demographic.
“This is not about one person winning a position,” she recently told a rally in Masaka. “It is about all of us winning opportunities and shaping the future of Uganda.”
The NRM’s internal primaries will determine whether she secures the party’s flag for the 2026 contest, but her influence is already being felt in broader discussions about youth engagement in politics. Even her rivals acknowledge that she has succeeded in elevating the discourse beyond slogans, injecting substantive debate into what the role of a youth MP should entail.
As the campaign trail intensifies, Nakku continues to traverse the country, blending policy advocacy with on-the-ground mobilization. She has visited universities, church gatherings, and community-based forums, repeating the same call to action: for young people to claim their space in the nation’s development journey. “Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Our future matters,” she tells them.
In a political climate often marked by cynicism, Nakku Phiona’s candidacy is offering a different narrative — one of hope grounded in action. Whether she emerges as the NRM’s nominee or not, her campaign has already ignited a renewed conversation about what Uganda’s youth can demand from their leaders, and what they can do, collectively, to shape the country’s path forward.
If the current momentum holds, the 2026 election could see not just a new face in Parliament, but the arrival of a leader whose mandate is rooted in the lived realities and aspirations of Uganda’s young generation — a leader they can truly call their own.
The writer is a youth delegate from Central Uganda
