Western Youth legislator Mwine Mpaka has been elected as the new chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs.
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.