Youth in Uganda have decried parliament over the rampant cases of sexual abuse of the youth  especially of women in schools and workplaces.

The petition was presented during a celebration of the National Parliament Youth Advocacy Day on Friday, 10 August 2018. The event was commemorated with a debate in the Parliamentary Chamber.

According to Hon. Silvia Akello, who presented the petition on behalf of the youth, sexual violence has posed the major challenge on the health and wellbeing of girls and young women in the country.

“Young girls are sexually violated in schools, workplaces and in communities generally.82 per cent of girls are sexually harassed right from secondary school and institution of higher learning. The sex for marks syndrome has left our young women violated by males in position of power,” Akello said.

Hon. Silvia Akello: Internet Photo

In 2016, Hon. Monicah Amoding (NRM, Kumi District) and Chairperson of Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) tabled the Sexual Offences Bill 2016 as a Private Members Bill, which seeks to consolidate all laws related to sexual offences and also spells out clear sanctions against sex offenders.

The day’s Chief Guest Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, said that the Sexual Offences Bill was delayed but would ensure that it is passed into law.

“All the pending bills have to be presented before October. I am ready for the Sexual Offences Bill because I know how important it is. I have designated a sitting to legislate on these bills,” she said.

The petition includes concerns on the recently introduced social media tax The youth contend that this is discriminatory to unemployed youth who use social media as a platform to search for job opportunities.

The youth also claim that there are increased levels of exploitation from employers and therefore  the Minimum Wage Bill. They said most youth have resorted to seeking for greener pastures abroad, where they are tortured, mistreated and sexually abused.

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The Ugandan Community in South Korea has requested for government  financial support to help boost trade between the two countries.

This was during a meeting with a Parliamentary delegation Monday August 6, 2018 led by the Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, at Glad Hotel, Seoul in South Korea.

Members of Ugandan Community in South Korea with the Speaker: Courtesy photo

The Chairperson of the Ugandan Community in South Korea, Paul Kaziro said that bilateral talks between Uganda and South Korea will also help to improve trade relations.

“We are requesting the government [of Uganda] to make a commitment to fund the activities of the Ugandan Community in South Korea as a registered association that supports and empowers Ugandans living here,” said Kaziro adding that “If government could also organise more trade and market conferences, the Ugandan economy will get a great boast”.

According to Kaziro, the restrictive South Korean visa  requirements can also be lessened when there is good relations between the two countries could lead to a relaxation of stringent visa by South Korea for Ugandans intending to visit the country.

“If the government can have bilateral talks with South Korea, it would facilitate Ugandans to come and trade freely which would improve the economy of Uganda and the relationship between the two countries,” Kaziro said.

He advised the Ugandan government to lobby for student visas to study from South Korean so as to optimize and exploit all the opportunities in the latter government.

Speaker Rebbecca Kadaga that she had knowledge of the Ugandan community in south Korea and a plan Ugandans in the Diaspora, which targeted North America, Netherlands and South Africa had already been drafted.

“I didn’t know that there was s uch a big population in South Korea. There is a plan to support other Diasporas, we can broaden and support can be sent here too,” she said.

 

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Cecilia Ogwal flagging off the team at Parliament this week

Dokolo Woman MP, Cecilia Ogwal this week flagged off the national team ahead of the world schools debate championships in Indonesia

Ninety countries including Uganda will participate in the competition that is slated for July 31st to 11th of August in Bali.

Ogwal met the team on behalf of the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga that is composed of secondary students from Iganga Girls, Gombe SS,   Muyenga High and Galaxy International School.

Led by Mahrukh Sajid from Muyenga High, the youngest team member is Morgan Moconha while others are Abbas Luyomba and Denis Musinguzi Kabila.

Sajid says she is proud to be the captain of the team and also glad that she has been chosen to debate despite societal restrictions on females.

Owgal commended the National Debate Council that selected the team members for considering Uganda’s diverse culture and also including Luyomba who has a disability.

Ogwal also encouraged the team to dream big by targeting to win all the 8 debates they are set to participate against teams such as Greece,  South Africa, US.

The head coach Hillary Kururagyire asked Ogwal and also the national female youth MP Anne Adeke to promote support towards intellectual sports in the country like debate.

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Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.

This after Kasese Municipality MP, Robert Centenary, has reported to Parliament Chinese mining investor during the plenary session of Parliament presided over by the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, Centenary pointed out that one Himatibet came to invest in copper mining industry but has turned into other things which was not meant to be invested in.

Centenary told Parliament that the mining investor has abandoned mining activities and diverted to timber treatment and hiring houses to become landlord and collect rent.

He asked Government to take extreme interest in monitoring the Investors activities since some come in the Country to investment and become a problem to the people at the ground.

Ruhakana Rugunda, Uganda’s prime minister Ruhakana Rugunda.

In response the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, said Government is going to investigate the investors who come into the Country because some are not genuine to the expectation so that an action is taken.

He said Government will scrutinize the investors who come in the country.

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According to Parliament’s Public Relations Officer Helen Kawesa, the speaker Rebecca Kadaga denies having made the decision not to recall parliament from recess due to unbearable pressure from the executive.

In a statement, Kawesa says the speaker will make a detailed statement when the house resumes next month.

The statement further indicates that, Kadaga, made the decision after the petitioner’s signatures fell short of the requisite one third of the total number of MPs.

Kawesa adds that all the members who were not satisfied with the speaker’s decision will be given an opportunity to raise the issues in the petition for debate in Parliament when it reconvenes next month.

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