Mpaka was elected unopposed by both members of parliament and stakeholders interested in fronting issues of youths during a parliamentary session on Wednesday.

The Western Youth MP said his leadership will lobby more resources for the youth and fight high unemployment.

Mpaka is also calling for value for money on the various government youth programmes.

“I will call on the government to re-allocate some of the money for Operation Wealth Creation to irrigation so as to attract more youths in the agricultural sector,” he says.

Western Youth MP also argues that the Youth Livelihood Programme which is an initiative of the Permanent Secretary for the Gender Ministry, Pius Bigirimana was mooted without the input of youth leaders.

National Youth MP, Anna Adeke was also elected as a General Secretary.

Mpaka has been elected with 7 others to run the forum as executive members for the next 2 and half years. Eastern Youth MP Ishma Mafabi was voted Vice Chairperson while Northern Region MP, Oscar Omony is the treasurer, Kole North County, Bonny Okello is Publicity Secretary, National female youth MP Anna Adeke beat Yumbe MP Alioni Odria for General Secretary while Buhweiju MP Francis Mwijukye beat Kyegegwa Woman MP Stella Kizza as the
representative for the Western region.

Other regional representatives for the North (Ismail Ogama), Central (Suubi Kinyamatama and Eastern (Apollo Yeri) were elected unopposed.

Earlier, organizers gave 3 minutes each to candidates to campaign, and Adeke and Odria had to convince the 32 voters on why they were the better suited candidates for General Secretary. Odria who is opposed to Florence Nakiwala’s appointment as minister of state for youths because she is not a youth says there is need for projects that benefit youths.

Adeke played the gender card to secure the position because she had initially eyed the top most seats but was not nominated.
The parliamentary forum on youth affairs focuses on legislating and advocating for youth responsive development.

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Kiyinji the state minister for youths and children affairs.

Kiyinji in an interview with journalists on Monday August 08, 2016 outlined the new reforms in the pipe line to include, having youth taught on how to invest this money and also staining the enterprises set, setting up offices where they can meet to deliberate on developmental issues at district level, finding markets, how to add value on the produce among other reforms that seek to make this programme more developmental to the target audience.

She further says that cooperatives are also to be reinstated to help on marketing the products at various levels both in and out of the country, adding that more money has also been injected in the programmee to take on more youth.

The new reforms also come at a time when the country prepares to mark the international youth day slated for 12th this month with the national celebrations to be held in Koboko district and are to be graced by President Yoweri Museveni.

The increase in local coffee consumption has also been sighted as a major turning point that could boost the quality of coffee produced in Uganda.

Statistics from the ministry of agriculture, show that Uganda produces approximately 3.5 million bags annually, but only 3% is consumed locally.

It is against this background that Inspire Africa, a civil society Organisation working with coffee development authority has started a campaign to inspire Ugandans on the importance of supporting coffee production.

The campaign was launched on Monday August 08,2016 at the Old Taxi Park in Kampala by Matthias Kasamba the director in charge of Coffee under the Operation Wealth Creation program.

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Hon.Komuhangi (right) holding a meeting together with the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Winnie Kizza.

Hon. Margaret Komuhangi, the Parliamentary chairperson on Gender, Labour and Social Development says government needs to do more to ensure that youths access services for development.

She says although projects such as the youth livelihood programme is making a difference in creating employment, there is still a lot to be done in order for them to fully live a meaningful life.

Komuhangi made the remarks on Tuesday 26, 2016, while meeting a delegation of women members of parliament from the Namibian who are in Uganda on a fact finding mission on how they can engage women and youth to fight poverty.

She revealed that every district in Uganda has benefited from youth livelihood funds and that there were still more funds available for youth to access.

Komuhangi also said that the gender parity percentage for women should be increased to 50 percent moving from the current 45 percent.

She added that although women are politically and economically empowered, there is still domestic violence and that the national budget allocation is still not equitably distributed for women benefit fully.

Agness Limbo, the Nambian legislator who led the group told the Ugandan couterparts Namibia intends to use Uganda’s acquaintance so as to help Namibian women and youth improve on their lives.

She said their visit is aimed at drawing lessons and best practices from Uganda’s approach of empowering youth and women in development.

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