Children want reparation for Africa
Nov 07, 2004
THE Uganda and British secondary schools Model United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA) held at Speke Resort Munyonyo last week resolved that Africa’s former colonial powers pay compensation to support the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme.
By Geresom Musamali
THE Uganda and British secondary schools Model United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA) held at Speke Resort Munyonyo last week resolved that Africa’s former colonial powers pay compensation to support the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme.
Twenty two Ugandan and seven British schools took part in the mock debate sponsored by the British Council and organised by London-based Slough Education Action Zone executive director Frank Newhofer. Ugandan Parliamentarian Kabakumba Matsiko presided over the assembly.
An emergency resolution towards the end of the assembly said, “The General Assembly of the United Nations, concerned by the growing inequality in wealth distribution among member states; supportive of the magnificent attempts by certain member states to ensure UPE as a right for all children of the world; mindful of the exploitation forced upon children through child labour and suffering this causes millions of families, demands the USA, UK, France, Portugal, Spain, Germany and Holland repay in full the debts incurred by their exploitation of Africa countries in the past.â€
The resolution further read the money should be paid to a UN fund for UPE throughout Africa at the rate of $100 per family.
The United States, represented by Makerere College School’s Chantal Kamikazi and Heddury Kyambadde, made a spirited effort to excuse itself from paying into the fund. They argued that the US has never been a colonial power at all, but that it had instead been colonised by Britain. But China, represented by Ndejje Secondary School’s Luke Ochieng Okuna and Isaac Ssekabanja objected to the US stand. They said the US had had an even bigger impact as neo-colonialists than the original colonialists. The US next offered to pay a lower rate of $50 per family but it was defeated in a 24 to five vote.
Other topics discussed included ways of preventing terrorism.
Among the schools were Bethany High School, Nabisunsa Girls, Nateete Muslim, Taibah Girls, St. Lawrence Kabaka’s Lake and King’s College Buddo.
Ends
THE Uganda and British secondary schools Model United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA) held at Speke Resort Munyonyo last week resolved that Africa’s former colonial powers pay compensation to support the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme.
Twenty two Ugandan and seven British schools took part in the mock debate sponsored by the British Council and organised by London-based Slough Education Action Zone executive director Frank Newhofer. Ugandan Parliamentarian Kabakumba Matsiko presided over the assembly.
An emergency resolution towards the end of the assembly said, “The General Assembly of the United Nations, concerned by the growing inequality in wealth distribution among member states; supportive of the magnificent attempts by certain member states to ensure UPE as a right for all children of the world; mindful of the exploitation forced upon children through child labour and suffering this causes millions of families, demands the USA, UK, France, Portugal, Spain, Germany and Holland repay in full the debts incurred by their exploitation of Africa countries in the past.â€
The resolution further read the money should be paid to a UN fund for UPE throughout Africa at the rate of $100 per family.
The United States, represented by Makerere College School’s Chantal Kamikazi and Heddury Kyambadde, made a spirited effort to excuse itself from paying into the fund. They argued that the US has never been a colonial power at all, but that it had instead been colonised by Britain. But China, represented by Ndejje Secondary School’s Luke Ochieng Okuna and Isaac Ssekabanja objected to the US stand. They said the US had had an even bigger impact as neo-colonialists than the original colonialists. The US next offered to pay a lower rate of $50 per family but it was defeated in a 24 to five vote.
Other topics discussed included ways of preventing terrorism.
Among the schools were Bethany High School, Nabisunsa Girls, Nateete Muslim, Taibah Girls, St. Lawrence Kabaka’s Lake and King’s College Buddo.
Ends