Youth leaders have raised alarm over a combination of sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, and the rising cost of politics, warning that these challenges are increasingly pushing young women and other aspiring leaders out of Uganda's political space.
The concerns were voiced during a student leaders conference in Wakiso District, where participants called for urgent reforms to make politics safer, more inclusive, and accessible to young people regardless of their background.
Former National Female Youth MP Aspirant Julia Muhumuza said young women seeking political leadership face entrenched barriers that limit both their participation and growth, with sexualization in politics emerging as one of the most pressing concerns.
"The biggest problem for any girl who throws herself into the political space is sexualization in politics. As long as you're a woman and you put yourself out there, you'll be shocked at how many men who would have helped you are only willing to help you in exchange to sleep with them," she said.
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Muhumuza noted that such practices discourage many capable young women from pursuing leadership roles, effectively shrinking the pool of female political leaders.
She added that negative societal perceptions also play a role, revealing that even her own family was hesitant to support her political ambitions due to fears about the environment women face in politics.
Beyond exploitation, she highlighted cyberbullying and public scrutiny as widespread but often ignored challenges affecting women in leadership.
"There is a lot of cyberbullying, so much happens to the girl who participates in politics," she said.
Muhumuza also criticized senior women leaders for failing to adequately mentor and support young entrants into politics, arguing that many young women are left to navigate a hostile system on their own.
"The biggest problem are the women that have gone before us, they are doing less to hold the hands of the young girls that are coming up," she said.
She added that in some cases, established female politicians view emerging leaders as competitors rather than mentees, further weakening support structures that could help young women thrive.
Muhumuza called for the creation of safe spaces and stronger mentorship networks, warning that without deliberate intervention, many young women may opt out of politics altogether. She also urged stakeholders to move beyond affirmative action and address deeper structural barriers such as harassment and exploitation.
"We need to stop complaining... and start building a safe space for women to participate in politics beyond affirmative action," she said.
Her concerns were echoed by National Youth Council Secretary for Student Affairs Jonathan Tayebwa, who pointed to the growing commercialization of politics as another major obstacle to youth participation.
"Even in youth politics and national politics, young women are facing sexual harassment, and politics has been commercialized. It has become so expensive that it can only be afforded by those from well-to-do families," Tayebwa said.
He warned that the high cost of political participation is excluding many capable young leaders from humble backgrounds, undermining inclusivity and equal opportunity.
Tayebwa said the Wakiso engagement, organized by the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA), was designed as a learning platform to prepare young people for leadership by exposing them to mentorship and real-life experiences.
"This is not just an event, but a learning opportunity for students to interact with leaders, share experiences, and see how they can better themselves and take on leadership roles in the future," he said.
He emphasized the importance of nurturing leaders with integrity and purpose, noting that early mentorship and exposure to role models are critical in shaping responsible leadership. Tayebwa pointed to leaders such as Rebecca Kadaga and Winnie Byanyima as examples young people can emulate.
According to Tayebwa, empowering young people is key to reforming Uganda's political landscape, including addressing issues of commercialization and ensuring safer spaces for women. He stressed that leadership development must begin early if the country is to build a new generation of accountable and inclusive leaders.
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"We believe these young people are not just leaders of tomorrow, but leaders of today and tomorrow, and they need to be prepared," he said.
Participants at the conference agreed that tackling these challenges will require collective action from government, political actors, and society at large. Muhumuza urged those in positions of power to take responsibility for pushing reforms and speaking out against abuse, while also calling on young people to demand change.
She pointed to countries such as Rwanda, where more women actively contest for positions alongside men, as an example of what can be achieved when systemic barriers are addressed.
Muhumuza warned that failure to act could see Uganda lose a generation of young female leaders discouraged by a political environment they view as unsafe, exclusionary, and unaffordable.
