By Our Reporter

SOROTI — As the race intensifies for the Eastern Youth Member of Parliament seat, Opolot Peter has emerged as a frontrunner, winning the hearts and minds of young people across the region with a bold and practical agenda focused on youth empowerment.

With a campaign centered on addressing youth unemployment, expanding educational access, and enhancing vocational skills training, Opolot is positioning himself as a transformative leader ready to confront the core challenges facing Uganda’s young generation.

Speaking at a recent community gathering in Soroti, Opolot reflected on his own experiences growing up amidst widespread youth unemployment and limited opportunities. “Unemployment has become a national crisis,” he said. “Many of our young people turn to alcohol, drugs, and other negative behaviors because they simply have nothing productive to do.”

To combat this, Opolot has proposed a multi-pronged strategy for job creation, including lobbying for government support to establish local factories and promoting self-employment initiatives. He believes that providing consistent and meaningful work is key to improving the lives of Uganda's youth and curbing social ills.

Education is another pillar of Opolot’s platform. Acknowledging the financial hardships faced by students after completing their A-levels, he is pledging to push for expanded access to scholarships and higher education funding. “There is an abundance of untapped potential among Uganda's youth,” Opolot noted. “But many are held back because they cannot afford to continue their studies. We must break that cycle.”

In addition to formal education, Opolot is a strong advocate for vocational training. He is calling for a substantial expansion of government-run Industrial Hubs to offer hands-on training in trades and technical fields. His plan includes increasing the student intake per district from 20 to over 100, thereby broadening access to practical skills that can immediately translate into employment opportunities.

Opolot’s message of empowerment is gaining traction, especially among the youth in Teso sub-region and beyond. As the campaign season continues, he faces competition from a range of other candidates, including Otaya Gabriel, Eonu Herbert, Omaria Emmanuel, and Apwatum Emmanuel. Yet, many young voters say Opolot’s deep understanding of their struggles—and his concrete plans to address them—set him apart.

With the general elections drawing near, Opolot remains committed to his vision: a Uganda where young people are educated, skilled, and meaningfully employed. His campaign is not just a political bid—it is, in his words, “a movement to unlock the potential of Uganda’s future leaders.”