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New Youth Platform PYIP opens up on reports that it works for Bobi Wine

NUP leader and Platform for Youth Inclusion in Politics (PYIP) spokesperson Prosper Mubangizi.

Platform for Youth Inclusion in Politics (PYIP) spokesperson Prosper Mubangizi has cleared the air on claims that the recently unveiled ‘special purpose vehicle’ is an arm of Bobi Wine’s People Power and Nation Unity Platform (NUP).

On July 23, coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs), including Youth Coalition on Electoral Democracy(YCED), Westminster Foundation for Democracy and Action Aid, launched PYIP to encourage youth participation in politics, push the youth agenda in inclusive development, policy and legislation.

The platform’s leaders also said they want to empower the youth to demand accountability from government, give youths mentorship and networking opportunities, and improve the quality of leadership.

Read: 2021 Elections: Civil Society coalition rallies youths to join politics

But the launch of PYIP on the day People Power and NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) unveiled his team of youth mobilizers, and after the launch of his newly acquired party, raised eye brows.

Read: Bobi Wine announces alliance with NUP party, takes over its leadership

With the political environment getting charged by day, some were wondering if PYIP’s launch around Bobi’s unveiling of a party and mobilisers was mere coincidence.

But Mubangizi told The Pearl Times the PYIP was neither affiliated to People Power (and NUP) nor any political party or pressure group.

“This is a civil society effort. There are no partisan interests. Our only interest is to have more young people participate in the political space of Uganda,” said Mubangizi.

He further noted that PYIP was formed at this time because “we seek bigger engagements” and want to “galvanize youth voices.”

Mubangizi further explained that YCED has existed as a coalition of youth CSOs for the past decade, dismissing reports that it was hastily formed to back Bobi Wine or any other politicians.

“PYIP leverages on YCED as we seek bigger engagements. There are no partisan interests in this platform,” he emphasized.

Samuel Kamugisha

Samuel Kamugisha is a Ugandan journalist, editor, language instructor, poet, fiction and non-fiction writer. A Makerere University graduate of Journalism and Communication with a decade-long experience in news reporting, writing and editing, Kamugisha is Editor at The Pearl Times. Most of his previous work was published by The Observer. When he is not doing journalism work -- which is rare -- Kamugisha will be reading or writing a short story or a poem, or caught up in the writer's block.