The youth of the East African Community this week received a boost with regional legislators calling out for their full involvement in integration matters.

Central to the plank is a call to amend article 50 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC to create slots for youth in the Assembly even as it reflects fair representation citizens’ diversity.

ChimpReports understands the assembly also called on all Partner States that are yet to establish National Youth Councils to do so.

The Assembly however states and succinctly so, abortion http://dangerdame.com/wp-includes/bookmark-template.php that lobbying for youth representation at EALA and at National Parliaments/Assemblies should begin at the level of youth organisations’ at the national levels to create the desired reforms.

While still at it, legislators are also advising youth that while their efforts are appreciated, a change of strategy is necessary where they (youth) focus on developing capacities in order to realize aspirations.

This is to enable them to register significant gains which lead to gainful recognition they seek at both national and regional levels.

The deliberations sum up the mood of the debate of the Assembly on the Report of the Committee on General Purpose Committee on the petition to advocate for key issues concerning the Youth in the EAC.

The petition was presented to the EALA Speaker by a team of Youth and Deputy Youth Ambassadors appointed during the 3rd EAC University Students debate.

The Youth Ambassadors presented the petition in March 2015 in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The salient prayers of the petition to EALA include calling for establishment of an EAC Youth Council, and advocacy for the operationalisation of vibrant National Youth Councils.

The petitioners also make a strong appeal to the Partner States’ National Assemblies to consider reserving slots for youth representation at the national level.

At debate time on Thursday, Hon Mukasa Mbidde called for the amendment of Article 50 of the Treaty specifically to allow for specific slot(s) to be set aside for youth.

Hon Maryam Ussi urged the Secretariat to establish a Youth Desk to handle youth matters that revolve around integration.

On her part, Hon Susan Nakawuki affirmed that currently, youth matters were considered a priority of the 3rd Assembly.

She however noted that it was “important for the structures of youth participation in politics to be harmonized right from the grassroots level to the national and eventually regional level.”

The legislator further called on the United Republic of Tanzania to finalise the establishment of its National Youth Council.

Hon Shyrose Bhanji said that youth constituted a percentage of over 60% in the region and said there was need for them to be well represented.

Rwanda example

She remarked that Republic of Rwanda has a special slot for youth and urged other Partner States to follow suit.

Hon Peter Mathuki said the region could do more for the youth and said it may be necessary for them to be granted an Observer Status at the EAC.

In her remarks, the Chair of the Council of Ministers, Dr Susan A. Kolimba lauded the petitioners (East African Community Youth Ambassadors) and re-affirmed that the Council of Ministers was committed to addressing matters facing the youth.

The Chair of Council of Ministers remarked that Regional Youth Councils were greatly dependent on the vibrancy of the National Youth Councils.

“Some of the National Youth Councils are not as vibrant as they ought to be in representing and lobbying for youth Affairs,” Hon Dr Kolimba said.

The Deputy Minister said Parliament of Tanzania had last year passed a law on EAC Youth Council Act, 2015 paving way for the establishment of the EAC Youth Council once the regulations are completed and in place.

The Minister added that a framework for the establishment of the Regional Youth Council is in the process of development and the first meeting of experts to discuss the framework will be convened in the next financial year 2016/17.

Hon Dr Kolimba said that the Children and Youth position at the EAC Secretariat as recommended at the 18th Council of Ministers’ meeting was still pending.
FDC Presidential candidate Col Dr Kizza Besigye has revealed that his point of departure with his once close ally and leader, see http://checkhimout.ca/testing/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php President Museveni was when the current head-of-state diverted from the fundamentals of the bush war and refused to listen to constructive criticism.

“I supported Museveni in 1980 because of what he espoused – empowering citizens to determine their own destiny and respecting their civil liberties, http://dayacounselling.on.ca/wp-includes/script-loader.php ” said Besigye.

“This led to my arrest and detention at Nile Mansions in Kampala by Obote’s government. I abandoned my well-paying job as a medical doctor to join Museveni who was resisting oppression and electoral malpractices, http://debbiehowes.com/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/json-endpoints/class.wpcom-json-api-render-shortcode-endpoint.php ” added the FDC strongman at a rally in Kabale on Saturday.

Besigye said after seizing power, Museveni could not tolerate criticism.

Arrest

“I fell out with Museveni after telling him that we were not fulfilling what took us to the bush and led to the death of over 500,000 people in Luwero. When I wrote to Museveni in 1999 that we are diverting from our core mandate of fighting, the threatened to arrest me,” revealed Besigye.

“I asked him why he intended to arrest me instead of discussing the points I was putting on the table. When he refused to listen, I decided to stand for president.”

Besigye was Museveni’s physician in the bush. The president recently said Besigye fled his government when the country was yet to stabilise.

He further said Besigye had not fully internalised the objectives of the NRA/M – a reason he started fighting the government in its infancy stages.

Besigye addressed several rallies in Kamwezi, Maziba, Muhanga and Kitanga in Kashambya where he was blessed by outspoken parish priest Rev. Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda.

The FDC flag-bearer asked his supporters in the district not to succumb to pressure and intimidation to vote President Museveni.

On curbing vote rigging, Dr Besigye reiterated his plan of setting up a team to counter what he claims to be a plot by the NRM to rig next month’s election.

Besigye said he would not allow any attempts to rig him out of the race, saying the “Power 10” members from the grassroots level would fight back.

“P-10 members will be trained to guard our votes from political scavengers of the NRM who have not stopped at stealing money but also votes,” said Besigye.

Dr Besigye observed that President Museveni feared being humiliated in the recently-concluded presidential debate because he had nothing to tell Ugandans. On his part, Museveni said he did not have time for the debate.

The final rally at Kabale Municipal Grounds was graced by Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Kaginda, Jack Sabiiti (Rukiga) and Fred Ruhakana.