The Uganda Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs has urged the Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs to come up with manageable budgets for international summits.

Africa Union flag

The current budget of the AU summit stretches to about 12 billion Uganda shillings. Uganda Parliament recently called for the review of the AU summit before passing additional 5.6 billion shillings.

Uganda MP Betty Amongi told Parliament that Uganda is a poor country which should have standardized budgets for international summits to ensure optimum use of the little national resources.

Amongin who is also a member of the Uganda Parliamentary Committee on Foreign affairs says that although Uganda parliament largely approved the additional budget, it has cut the budget by about 200 million Uganda shillings due to duplication of activities.

She cited a provision for Internet services in more than two areas of the budget yet internet service provision is an aspect that can only be covered under a single area of the budget.

Uganda will host the 15th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union (AU) from 19th to 27th July, 2010.

Also read stories about the African Union summit

Zacharia Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media

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African Union Chairman and Malawi President, Bingu wa Mutharika

This comes as Uganda prepares to host the 15^th Africa Union summit slated for 25th to 27^th July, 2010.

She says that despite Africa’s limited resources to provide quality healthcare to mothers, infants and children, focus on issues of violence, human rights, education and poverty can help reduce maternal and infant mortality to manageable levels.

Agena says that the main causes of mother’s deaths like bleeding, infections, abortions and obstructed labour can be prevented with increased African government’s support.

She also appealed to African governments to invest in mobile phone technology and e-health application gadgets to allow mothers easily get information on treatment and other health related services.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Over 137 children out of every 1,000 born in Uganda die before their fifth birthday, while 76 infants out of every 1,000 die before their first birthday.

Also see

Uganda’s infant mortality rate still high

Maternal death (definition, causes, risk factors, maternal mortality ratio, maternal death rates)

Study on maternal mortality and neonatal morbidity in Africa (WHO study)

Ultimate Media

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Uganda will host the first African Youth Forum slated for 17th to 19th July 2010 at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel to provide the youth with an opportunity to air their views to the African leaders that will attend the African Union summit in Uganda.

Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi

The Youth forum which is one of the few activities that will precede the African Union Summit is set to take place from 19th to 27th July.

The Prime Minister of Uganda, Prof. Apollo Nsibambi told journalists at Uganda government Media Centre that the forum is aimed at putting African Youths in a position that enables them to influence and impact on decision making process in African Union member countries.

According to Nsibambi, the theme of the forum will be “Maternal and Child Health; African Youth Call for Action.”

He says the forum will be attended by 2 delegates from each of the 53 African Union countries. However, the Prime Minister adds that Uganda as a host country will have 20 youth delegates to represent it at the forum.

Nsibambi says the forum will also be attended by renowned international youthful facilitators with vast conference experience and expertise.

By Zacharia Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media

The post Uganda to host first African Youth Forum first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Parliament declined to approve the budget because it wanted further explanations from the Ministry of Finance regarding expenditures during the summit.

Africa Union flag

The Summit that will bring together all African countries that make up the African Union will take place next month.

The Minister of Finance in charge of Planning Ephraim Kamuntu told journalists at Uganda Parliament today that his ministry will soon give a detailed explanation to parliament regarding the expenditures of next month’s African Union summit.

He says his ministry will meet with the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development next week to ensure a timely approval.

The 2007 CHOGM summit in Uganda was marred by corruption with top government ministers implicated for swindling billions of Uganda taxpayer’s money meant for organizing the summit

By Tiberindwa Zakaria

Ultimate Media

The post Uganda Parliament declines to approve AU summit budget first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.