AFRO ARAB | YOUTH | COUNCIL

KAMPALA - Uganda is set to host the 19th Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC) meeting, which will get underway on Wednesday this week and end next Thursday.

The council is a platform uniting the youth of Africa and the Arab world and mobilizing them to participate in development programmes within and outside their countries.

The dialogue is organised for these young people to promote the development agenda in their respective countries in terms of values, traditions, socio-economic interests and culture.

The AAYC is under the patronage of President Yoweri Museveni.

Dr. Abbas Agaba, the general secretary of the council, told reporters last Friday that year’s dialogue will be marked under the theme: Healthy Youth, Wealthy Nations.

The theme is in line with the challenge of a growing youth population that is straining the health systems in member countries, he explained.

“It should be noted that African governments still face a challenge of the youth bulge, which strains not only the job sector, but also the health systems, making it difficult for the existing health facilities to ably serve."

A medical camp to be conducted in Ntare Health Centre in Kitagwenda and a health run to graced by King Oyo of Tooro will be among the activities of the week-long council meeting.

There will also be a dialogue at Kampala International University to be graced by the council's patron, President Museveni.

Organisers said the dialogue will attract youth leaders, student leaders, academia, policy makers and professionals in various fields to discuss issues affecting youth.

Conducted on a rotational basis, last year's meeting was organized in partnership with the Busoga region, where Uganda’s tourism potential in Busoga was marketed to members. 

They also promoted sustainable farming, in which trees were planted in some parts of Busoga and orchards - fruit gardens - were established in Teso region.

Agaba said next year's meeting will be held in Morocco.