THOSE FROM AMONG US…

Comrade youths, especially my fellow hustlers

From Yumbe to Kotido, Agago to Dokolo, Emmanuel to Mariam; all edges and persons within the reach of my declaration, I wish you a prosperous month of Lent and Ramathan. My name is Kidega Ogenrwot Moses, and I am exceedingly honored to make known to you my bid for the Northern Uganda Youth Member of Parliament seat 2026/31. On this journey, I am pleased to briefly share with you who I am, why I am running and our belief of possibility, for the ever enduring and resilient youth of the region. I was born in 1996 into an extended peasant family in Acoli, from whom I developed deep passion for community service. My father, a simple but devoted community organizer was a proponent for the return of “kuc” (peace) to the land. He was a regular donator of food items and firewood from our family garden, under his Akwano enterprises to the NRA soldiers, and mobilized wanainchi to do the same. In further pursuit of kuc, he rendered political support to Hon. Betty Bigombe in bazaar zone, ahead of her 1993 peace talks with the LRA fighters (lukwena) at Pagik in Gulu.

My mother, a renowned Christian and traditional woman committed most of her time to raising her seven (7) biological children, together with some of the children who had lost their parents in the war. So I grew up knowing every child to be “omera (sibling)”, because mom opened the doors of our small home to all. What a community of children we were! Holy Rosary parish church was her second home and reciting the rosary became sixth sense to us all. She was also proactive in resource mobilization for church developments, as well as working as a part-time nurse in a community clinic in Gulu town. Commercial agriculture generated some income that supported our education and various community endeavors. I am grateful to God for the gift of my loving parents, who selflessly extended this love and empathy beyond family boundaries.

My childhood aspirations, like many children born and raised in the Northern region during this era were basic, to overcome poverty, go to school, survive trauma of the insurgence and see tomorrow, no big dreams really. One fond memory I recall was in 1999 or thereabout, before my parents got the small home in town, we made routine movements from the outcasts to the town center, seeking shelter and safety. We would lay our heads wherever nightfall found us, but preferably near the bus park or at the night commuters center. In the early 2000’s, I joined Bishop Angelo Negri Primary School, one of the missionary boys’ schools in present day Amuru District, and while there, we kept on hearing narrations of children disappearing to LRA abductions and becoming child soldiers, and the fear of who next was inevitable. One of my teachers, Mr. Okwera (I think) told us one time that if we had to overcome this experience, we had to work hard and go to Kampala, and from this point on, I knew my future was in my hands. My education was enabled by my parents’ peasantry hustle, the church’s generosity and the NRM Governments’ policy on free education, as I am a proud product of the universal education system. One of the core reasons among others, in addition to the peace and stability that I support the NRM government. Having had this experience, I developed enthusiasm for justice, and later pursued a Bachelor of Laws Degree at Makerere University, with belief that the law, together with leadership should be an equalizer and guarantor for equality, fairness, peace, development and prosperity for all.

My conviction about leadership came to light in my teenage days and has ever since grown stronger, drawing its beam from the courage, charisma and nobility of the leaders who navigated through the delicate corridors of the insurgence, the peace talks, and eventually occasioning the return of peace, under the able leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to whom we are forever grateful. Owing to this passion, the grace of God and voice of the people, I have been
democratically elected and honored to serve at various leadership roles i.e.;
– SCR Livingstone Hall, Makerere University Students’ Guild – 2017/18
 – Chairperson Council of College Presidents, Makerere University Students’ Guild – 2018/19
 – Secretary for National Affairs, Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA) – 2019/20
 – Secretary for Labour & Works, National Youth Council (NYC) – 2020/25

Having attained vast experience and learnt from these leadership roles, and amidst challenges been able to make my humble contribution in realizing the following;
– Successfully challenging the 60% University tuition policy.
 – Re-instating the Higher Education Students’ Loan Scheme under HESFB.
 – Securing relief items for stranded students during CoVID-19 lockdown.
 – Amplifying youth voices on pertinent matters through the youth round table show.
 – Successfully championing the participation of youth-led businesses in public procurement and disposal, by creating affirmative action under the PPDA.
 – Evaluating the performance of government youth programs, presidential skilling centers,their implementation and making recommendations.
 – Initiated the formulation of the regional youth leaders Sacco among others.

Whereas acknowledging that much is yet to be done, I have with certainty appreciated the unique plight of our region, its continuous pursuit for social- economic transformation and the untapped potential that lay underneath. Undoubtedly, at the center of these aspirations should be her
resilient, dynamic, committed and enduring youthful population that require strategic mobilization and support. It’s from this background, and the consultations we have held with a broad category of stakeholders, that our candidature presents a four-dimension, common persons’ approach towards creating a new possibility and hope for the youth of our region, and country at large. With thematic areas on;
1.Education
– Review the implementation of the district Quota system to benefit needy students.
– Affirmative action advocacy in allocation of Government scholarships to students from Northern Uganda.
 – Advocate for an increase in the capitation grant to UPE and USE schools on top of the 10,000ugx already assigned.
 – Lobby for government rehabilitation and extensive equipping of traditional secondary schools in the region i.e. Layibi College, Lango College, Moroto High school, Mvara high school etc.
 – Fast track the Ministry of Education and Presidential commitment to set up a zonal public university in Moroto Municipality.

2. Unemployment and Innovation
 – Advocate for the establishment of Presidential skilling hubs in Arua City, Omoro District, Lira City and kotido District, since the existing ones are overwhelmed with numbers.
– Additionally, lobby for the provision of start-up kits for the successful graduands.
 – Legislate the enactment of the youth start-up bill, to enable young business owners have periodic tax exemptions, thus reduce the cost of production. e.g. waiver of the 18% mobile data tax.
 – Advocate for more government investment in the private sector to create jobs. By availing more soft credit to entrepreneurs through Uganda Development Bank.
 – Strengthen the monitoring of youth programs such as the Youth Livelihood Program, Youth Capital Venture fund, as well as champion the increase from 30% to 50% youth allocation in the Parish Development Model (PDM).
 – Opening and capitalization of district youth leaders Sacco.
 – Extend ICT trainings to the rural community youth through strategic partnerships

3. Institutional capacity building
 – Secure increased funding for youth-led institutions by guaranting their independent vote in parliament. National Youth Council, District Youth Councilors and UNSA among others.
 – Set up four (4) regional youth M.P offices in Gulu city, Arua City, Moroto Municipality and Lira City. To allow quick processing for legislation of youth matters in the region.
 – Lobby for strategic partnerships to support education, youth entrepreneurs and youth in agriculture.

4. Sexual reproductive health rights
 – Champion a mandatory Ministry of Education program, that guarantees free monthly distribution of reusable sanitary pads to school going girls.
– Mobilize religious and cultural institutions to actively take part in the fight against teenage pregnancy and early child marriages. Together with robust guidance and counselling programs.

Comrades, these among others are our aspirations, I am only the tool at your disposal to use to
bring our dreams to reality. I request that you hear this clarion call, take heed and rally behind
this visionary noble cause. Then together, we shall make the voices of the common youth,
peasantry and hustlers heard. I thank you!

Yours in service and comradeship,

Kidega Ogenrwot Moses
Aspirant-Northern Region Youth Member of Parliament 2026/31
+256-774612207
@kidegamoise

“A Common Person, for the Common People”. #HustlersNow