Youth leaders cautioned on youth's expectations

Apr 20, 2016

“The onus is on you to ensure you carry your fellow youth’s voice and represent them diligently to ensure their lives are transformed for the better. If you go wrong, you will be doing a great disservice to them,” Larok noted.

Youth leaders have been advised to work in accordance with the expectations of their constituents across the country if their lives are to be transformed positively.

Speaking at a two-day workshop dubbed ‘The Youth leadership Dialogue' held at Eureka Hotel in Kampala, Arthur Larok, the Country Director of ActionAid Uganda noted that youth's participation in decision-making is crucial. This is because they make up the largest percentage of the population and every policy affects them more than any other group.

"The onus is on you to ensure you carry your fellow youth's voice and represent them diligently to ensure their lives are transformed for the better. If you go wrong, you will be doing a great disservice to them," Larok noted.

The workshop attracted the newly elected youth Members of Parliament, youth councilors from across the country, and youth organisations, among other partners.

ome of the youth who attended the outh leadership ialogue Some of the youth who attended the Youth leadership Dialogue'

 

The meeting discussed the National Youth Manifesto which tackles the priority demands of the young people in the country. The youth urged government to create an enabling policy framework that allows youth to harness their potential.

At least 78% of the population of Uganda is 30 years and below and 50% of the population is 15 years and below.

"If Uganda is to achieve its Vision 2040, it must harness its youthful population and we as the youth demand our full participation so we can make our full contribution," Ashraf Kakaire, a youth councillor from Iganga said.

Many youth across the country are faced with such challenges like unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, among others, which affects their ability to contribute fully to the economy.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});