‘We are stuck’: Young Ugandans want stability, opportunities on eve of vote

‘We are stuck’: Young Ugandans want stability, opportunities on eve of vote Tension as 81-year-old Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his four-decade rule in a country where 70 percent of people are under age 35. Kampala, Uganda - It’s the eve of Uganda’s highly contested presidential election, and the country is partially shut down. The national communications authority has suspended public internet access , the sale and registration of new SIM cards, and outbound roaming services. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 ‘Protect the vote’: Bobi Wine, opposition brace for tense Uganda election list 2 of 3 Uganda, Elections & the Internet list 3 of 3 Uganda faces mounting calls to end internet blackout before elections On the streets of the capital city, the move has triggered anger and frustration - especially among young people who rely heavily on the internet for work, communication, and opportunity. Marvin Masole says he mostly uses WhatsApp to communicate and to do business. The 27-year-old university graduate has tried repeatedly to find a job - and failed. Frustrated, he is now looking for opportunities abroad. “Many of us use WhatsApp. Without internet, we are stuck,” he tells Al Jazeera. “There are people out there earning money online. I feel if we had a youthful president, he would not have authorised the shutdown. He is marginalising us.” Masole is gathered with friends at a food stall in downtown Kampala. The group share a famous “Rolex” - a chapati rolled with egg - a popular street delicacy in Uganda. The oldest person among them is 37 years old. Most are in their 20s. This mirrors the national average - more than 70 percent of the country is under the age of 35. But for decades, this youthfulness has not been reflected in the upper echelons of power. For all their lives, Masole and his friends have known only one president - Yoweri Museveni, now 81, who is seeking a seventh term after nearly four decades in power. Tension and uncertainty More than 21.6 million voters have registered for Thursday’s election. But for many young Ugandans, the disconnect between them and Museveni’s policies feels both generational and political. They are educated, digitally connected, and facing high unemployment - and many say their voices do not translate into power. But for other young Ugandans, the generational divide between them and the president does not translate into an ideological one. Scovia Tusabimana strongly supports the president and his policies. She believes his leadership has benefitted the country. “I was five years old when Museveni came to power. I’m an orphan. I couldn’t afford school,” she tells Al Jazeera. “The president introduced universal primary education. He has built roads and hospitals.” When asked about the internet shutdown and reports of campaign violence against the opposition and its supporters in the run-up to the polls, she says: “I’m not happy with the way things have been going, but I believe there is a reason why.” Masole says...

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