By Aaron Okotel
MBALE CITY
The Eastern Youth Parliament of Uganda, convening its sixth sitting in Mbale City, has urgently called upon the government to increase funding and civic education initiatives focused on climate change.
This plea aims to safeguard vulnerable districts in Eastern Uganda that are grappling with the devastating impacts of landslides and droughts.
Over 50 delegates from various districts gathered for the session on Wednesday 9th July, where the climate change motion was one of three key proposals passed.
The delegates also reached a consensus on two other crucial motions: advocating for increased government investment in youth projects and loans, and urging the government to revise the lower-level school curriculum to incorporate vocational life skills training starting from primary education.
Prior to the sitting, the Youth Parliament elected its new leadership, with Rt Hon Ssemugenze Frank taking the Speaker role and Rt Hon Mumeya Yasin appointed as the Clerk to Parliament.
Speaker Semugenze Frank expressed his commitment to engaging directly with young people across different districts.
“We shall use this opportunity to move at least in different districts and meet the youth, and collect the issues affecting them,” he stated.
Namuwenge Esther, a youth representative from Mbale City’s Northern Division, highlighted prevalent challenges faced by young people in her community, including corruption, unwanted pregnancies, and denial of access to education. She emphasized that the Youth Parliament serves as a vital platform to discuss these issues and devise solutions.
The resolutions passed by the Eastern Youth Parliament are set to be presented at higher levels of governance. “After all this happening and all the regions are done, we have to converge the ideas and the resolutions, because there are those motions that will be passed,” explained a delegate. “Once they are passed, we take them to the National Youth Parliament. After there, we shall go to the East African Youth Parliament and still discuss about these things, so that they provide for a meaningful impact and a meaningful mechanism for these youths.”
The annual Youth Parliament event is organized by the Faraja Africa Foundation, with significant support from the European Union (EU) and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).
