Youth policy dialogue on mercury governance in Uganda

In January–February 2026, the Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC) convened a structured Youth Policy Dialogue to strengthen youth participation in mercury governance and Uganda’s implementation of the Minamata Convention. The initiative brought together youth environmental advocates, student leaders, and young representatives from communities affected by artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). The dialogue resulted in the development and formal submission of a youth-led policy brief to Parliament, advancing institutionalized youth engagement in national chemical and environmental governance.

Youth participants during CECIC’s Mercury Governance Policy Dialogue held in Kasese Municipality in January 2026. The session convened student leaders and youth representatives from ASGM‑affected communities to analyze governance gaps and develop policy recommendations.

Mercury pollution remains a significant environmental and public health challenge in Uganda, particularly in regions affected by ASGM. Mercury is commonly used by informal mining operations near homes, schools, and water sources, exposing communities, including children and pregnant women, to serious health concerns. While Uganda has taken steps to align national frameworks with the Minamata Convention, youth engagement in mercury governance has historically been informal and under-structured.

Recognizing both the urgency of mercury-related risks and the potential of Uganda’s youthful population, CECIC convened the Youth Policy Dialogue between January and February 2026. Approximately 28 youth participants (including student leaders, youth environmental advocates, and local youth representatives from ASGM-affected communities) took part. The sessions were structured as governance dialogues focused on examining gaps in awareness, institutional coordination, monitoring systems, and youth representation in mercury governance structures.

A youth drafting committee worked with CECIC’s technical team to translate dialogue outcomes into formal policy recommendations. This collaboration produced the policy brief, "Strengthening Youth Engagement in Mercury Governance and Implementation of the Minamata Convention in Uganda".

The brief proposes formalizing youth representation in mercury coordination frameworks; establishing a Youth Mercury Action and Innovation Window to support youth-led initiatives; integrating mercury literacy into education and public health outreach; and strengthening community-level monitoring and reporting systems in ASGM regions.

The completed brief was formally submitted to the Parliament of Uganda. CECIC plans to expand youth engagement through district-level dialogues in mining-affected regions, youth capacity-building sessions, and the development of simplified mercury awareness toolkits for schools and youth networks.