Last Updated on: 20th August 2023, 07:30 pm
Summary
- Multiparty Youth Forum (MYF) is a platform that brings all the political party youth leagues with representation in Parliament and statutory bodies like National Youth Council (NYC), Uganda National Students Association (UNSA), and Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs (UPFYA).
- MYF gets support from the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) which also doubles as the host Secretariat for the (youth forum).
Kampala I Ahead of the International Youth Day 2023 held in Kabala district in Western Uganda, MYF held a “dialogue conference on youth inclusion in political spaces” at Cephas Inn Hotel in Kabale Town on Thursday, August 17, 2023.
The resolutions were presented on August 18, at national celebrations by the National Youth Council and MYF Chairperson, Jacob Eyeru. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was the chief guest.
Speaking to TND News on Sunday, Faizo Muzeyi who’s the MYF Secretary said the pre-national youth celebrations dialogue attracted youth members from MYF.
“Present were NYC/MYF Chairperson Jacob Eyeru, UYD President/MYF Vice Chairperson Kirya Ismail, MYF Secretary also Head of Media and Communications at UPC Muzeyi Faizo, UPC Youth Leader Dan Isimbwa, JEEMA Youth Leader Harunah Musanje, PPP Youth Leader Lynnet Nanyonjo.
“FDC Youth Leader Walid Mulindwa Lubega, NRM Representative/MYF Secretariat Kasumba Godfrey, UPFYA Representative Rukundo Paul and UNSA Representative Habib,” also attended, said Secretary Faizo .
The dialogue was graced by the Mayor of Kabale Municipality Mackline Batwale and Deputy RDC of Kabale Bakaki Ronald.
Mayor Batwale asked the youth to stop being passive supporters and instead be active participants who should actively participate in all electoral processes, including offering themselves elective positions.
The deputy RDC appreciated MYF for holding what he described as “a very important dialogue conference” that brought youths together and recommended that MYF and NIMD should organize such activities at a regional level.
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The steering committee is the supreme organ of MYF and is comprised of chairpersons of the youth leagues and the secretary.
“We are committed to creating safe spaces for our youth to dialogue, deliberate, and voice their concerns about their effective participation in politics and governance,” NIMD programs officer, Natasha Apio, said.
In his presentation on Thursday, Secretary Faizo highlighted that MYF programs operate on four-point minimum agenda: youth skilling and employment, graduate scheme (national service scheme); education framework and financing and political participation and influence.
On youth skilling and employment, he said the Forum meet and advocates for legislation to nurture employment growth and protect employed youth like the minimum wage. To achieve this, key stakeholders, including coordinators of Presidential Skilling Hubs are engaged.
Two, they meet and advocate for equitable access to opportunities, like funds, regardless of the political party affiliation to benefit from PDM, Emyoga, YLP and OWC.
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Further, they use International Youth Day to advocate for more youth-centred programs.
Political participation and influence
Youth from different political parties or leagues are having their capacity built, including attending annual accountability and policy conference.
They also participate in peace forums; annual national youth symposiums and press conferences on emerging issues, according to Faizo.
MYF milestones
Launched in September 2022 at Protea Hotel, Kampala, the youth forum secretary boasts of major milestones.
“We have united youth leaders among mainstream political party youth leagues with representation in Parliament. That is, DP, FDC, JEEMA; PPP, NRM and UPC and youth entities like National Youth Council (NYC), Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) and Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs (UPFYA).
“This unity of purpose has afforded young people across the political divide a common voice on matters that concern the youth,” he added.
Faizo stated they are now able to foster political tolerance and coexistence. “Young people with divergent political inclinations can peacefully dialogue with each without treating each other as enemies and there exists inclusion of young people in political spaces.
“Participated in legislation, advocacy and lobbying training at Parliament. Uganda Democracy Academy Fellowship is ongoing.
“We are having constructive partnership engagements with the Center for Policy Analysis (CEPA) and the East African Programs Manager for Kchristian Democratic International Center, Mr Otim Emmy,” the secretary of MYF on the major milestones since 2022.
At least nineteen participants from different political parties and statutory bodies participated in the formation of MYF in 2022. Among them were FDC, UPC, NRM; DP, JEEMA, NUP; NYC and UNSA, among others.