Challenge of a Generation I: The Elites

The people

Population Age distribution for Uganda 2010. via NationMaster

About 75% of Uganda's population falls within a single generation(By some definitions of a generation anyway) Around three quarters of Ugandans were born after 1986. Most sources today will tell you Uganda has the youngest population in the world today half of her population is under 15 years old. Three quarters are 25 and younger. Some of the immediate implications are obvious, for instance its obvious that Uganda at least in one sense is being run by a minority group. But that can almost be forgiven since it cant be easy finding adequate representation for people under 25. However the country's leaders (political and otherwise) are not a minority only by age, they are also a minority by income.

The money

According to the world bank statistics, as of 2009, 36% of Uganda's wealth is controlled by 10% of the population, with some maths you could easily come to the conclusion that any Ugandan with an annual income of more than  $2000 a year falls in this 10%. So if the goods and services you consume in a year exceeds $2000 congratulations, you are the 10%. This includes housing, tuition, shopping, Medicare etc. At $10,000 well then you are probably within some richest  fraction of a percent Compared to a lot of the world it doesn't really take much to get into this group. This applies even if you are a dependant consuming what your parents get you, if its value is above $2000 you still rank among the 10% richest Ugandans.

Almost all Ugandans who will read this fall within the wealthiest 10% of the country. Most of the Ugandans I know spend more than $3000 annually and thus are well within the wealthiest 5% of Ugandans. For most in this group(me inclusive)this is an accident of birth, it's not exactly something we've earned. The opportunities that are afforded to us are ultimately a result of being born into the right family that could afford to take us through schools where we meet other privileged people, develop connections and get exposed to opportunities that 90% of the country can't access.

The brains

Most of the youth in the wealthiest 5% in Uganda have been educated through one or more of the 20 or so best schools at each level, they went to one of the best primary schools, one of the best secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the country. Most Ugandans reading this, have been exposed to the best education the country has to offer. Granted that's not saying much for such a broken system but relative to the rest of the country, you are the best educated. While the rest of the country is taught by teachers who can't even pass the standard exam in the subjects they teach, the best teachers all teach in the same set of schools that cater for the children of the wealthy.

The point

Uganda in the next 30 years will likely move from having one of the oldest governments to having one of the youngest since there simply wont be enough old people. It is possible that when looking for experience competence will take less of a role as people are assigned and denied positions based more on age. But experience is not just a function of time and age. Experience can be learned. By studying precedence, history and the paths of other people we can gain more experience than we would by just simply waiting to come of age.
This  article serves as a primer to most of the thoughts I have regarding my country Uganda. I love my country, but I'm not particularly proud of it, if I could choose which country to be born into, I'd still choose Uganda(or maybe South Sudan, but that's another story). I believe Uganda and her people are big time under-achievers, and I'd like to know why.
As for solutions, this much is clear, the bulk of the responsibility of fixing and growing Uganda lies with my generation since we are the majority, and the bulk of that responsibility of coming up with workable solutions should lie with those who have received the best education and are lucky enough to have been born in positions where they have access to the resources necessary to be effective. What remains to be seen is are we willing to take on the responsibility of looking out for the other 90%.