Over 60 youth leaders to contest in 2016 polls

Mar 19, 2015

More than 60 youth leaders from different political parties have been trained to contest in leadership positions.

 

By Francis Emorut                                                    

KAMPALA - With only ten months left to Uganda’s 2016 general elections, more than 60 youth leaders from different political parties have been trained to contest in different political leadership positions.

The youth leaders are from National Resistance Movement (NRM), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party (DP) and Justice Forum (JEEMA), Federal Alliance and Conservative Party (CP).

The youth leaders were trained by Leadership Academy an initiative of Uganda Youth Network (UYONET) aimed at encouraging young people to take up leadership positions.

The training was supported by Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) and International Republican Institute (IRI).

The young upcoming politicians were trained in leadership skills involving policy analysis and advocacy, ethics and integrity, diplomatic relations, conflict resolution and management and governance and development.

Other focus areas were public speaking, campaigns and electioneering, information communication technology (ICT), leadership and interpersonal skills as well as organization and strategic management.

Parliamentary aspirants were trained by top politicians in the country including the DP president Nobert Mao, UPC's Olara Otunnu, Betty Kamya of the Federal Alliance and Ofwono Opondo who is NRM's deputy spokesperson and also the executive director of Uganda Madia Centre.

Former ethics minister Miria Matembe was also a trainer. The trainees were mentored by the politicians whom they came face-to-face with.

‘My life transformed’

Nesta Katushabe, who graduated in social sciences at Makerere University, said she was inspired by ex-minister Miria Matembe.

The 34-year-old wants to contest on the NRM ticket for the Mbarara Woman MP seat.

She said the training has enabled the youth from different political parties to sit together without looking at each other as enemies.

"My life has been transformed by the training because we were taught how to tolerate the different opinions of members from different political parties. I now have friends from FDC, JEEMA, DP and UPC.”
 


Honest Kansiime, carrying her child, wants to contest for Woman MP Kanungu district. (Photo credit: Francis Emorut)


The training has equally been beneficial to Blessed Nambooze of DP who wants to vie for a leadership position in Luweero district.

Richard Agaba, an NRM supporter and also director of studies at Lawrence Margaret Senior Secondary School, Kikaya, said he will contest for a parliamentary seat in Bugahiya County in Hoima district.

‘Transparency and accountability’

The youth leaders said the move to contest for leadership positions in the 2016 polls is intended to bring in new ideas that will ensure service delivery in the country is improved.

They made the remarks during a briefing on programmes implementation after undergoing six months of training in leadership transformation.

Zacch Benard Tuma, a police officer based in Soroti, said he wants to stand as Oyam North MP.

"I like politics – ever since I was in primary [school] up to now. I want to bring in leadership that will ensure transparency and accountability is exercised as far as service delivery is concerned,” he said.

Tuma, 31, who was admitted at Gulu University to study Information Technology couldn't take up the admission due to lack of tuition fee and chose to join the police force in 2009.

Honest Kasiime, a mother of a one-year-old baby, said she wants to contest for the Woman MP seat in Kanungu district. The 26-year-old is a regional officer for FDC in charge of western region.

She studied procurement and logistics management at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) and wants to ensure that quality debate is exercised in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Robin Walbulembo, 25, a third-year student of business administration at Makerere University, wants to contest for district leadership in Mbale.

"I will bring in leadership credentials of integrity, accountability and transparency.”
 

 

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