By Sabir Musa

Regional Youth Parliament sessions organized by Faraja Africa Foundation in July this year identified several concerns on issues affecting youth in different sectors which were compiled and presented on the floor parliament as a petition to government for action.

While presenting this petition on behalf of youth across the country during the 6^th Annual National Youth Parliament, Judith Bako pointed out challenge of employment as most of the employers consider many years of experience.
“There is no university where the young people can go and study experience. Arising from that challenge of experience demand, we are petitioning that the parliament has to look and re-amend that bill (Employment Bill, 2022) so that the young people do not get question on years of working experience” Bako read part of the petition in parliament.

The petition proposed for amendment of Employment Act, 2022 which should clearly indicate that working experience is not a major requirement to benefit youth who graduate newly.

Other issues raised in the petition include unfavorable tax policies for business and limited support for innovation for youth.

The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs at Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Sarah Mateke is hopeful that many of the issues raised this petition can easily be addressed if all the stakeholders sit together. “There are many things raised in the petition, after she (Petitioner) will bring to my office and we sit together so that we are able to address them. Let us open our minds to sustain the intervention and enterprises for young people for their holistic being, the government has put in place interventions that must partake and be the advocate” the minister’s response to the petition.

 
Minister of Youth and Children Affairs, Sarah Mateke addressing the youth delegates in Parlaiment Photo by Faraja Africa Foundation
 
However, the Executive Director of Faraja Africa Foundation, Emmanuel Wabwire notes that, youth in the country have limited platforms to voice their concerns, pointing it a reason for the annual youth parliament which links directly to government. “There is continues shrinking civic spaces and why there has been a struggle to have a space to express ourselves, to participate even being the elections is because that we are many young people but spaces are limited” he reasons.

The 6^th National Youth Parliament held in the Parliament of Uganda chamber was organized under the theme: Creative Youth Advocacy for Legislative Engagement.

COVER PHOTO: Youth during the parliament session Photo by Faraja Africa Foundation