The youth in the northern districts of Oyam, Nwoya and Amuru have petitioned parliament seeking for government attention to address the issue of un employment through participation in government programs poverty eradication, literacy and gender equality.
The youth under basic needs foundation Uganda a non governmental organization helping the youth in northern Uganda handed the petition to the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga stating that the rate of unemployment and underemployment are increasing due to limited support and few opportunities to participate in government livelihood programs.
While reading the petition to the speaker, one of the youth Charles Oyet from Amuru district urged parliament to help in ensuring that government priotises functional literacy and numeracy skills development so as to empower the youth to overcome barriers caused by illiteracy.
The youth further asked parliament to push government to invest in the youth mobilization in northern Uganda to address common problems such sexual and gender based violence, alcohol and drug abuse and early marriages among other social problems.