Earth Charter Youth Group Students for Global Democracy - Uganda

Transcription

1 Earth Charter Youth Group Students for Global Democracy - Uganda Activities Report By Mike Gesa munabi President Earth Charter Youth Group Students for Global Democracy Uganda Civic Responsibility and Youth Engagement Public Lecture 26 th February 2009 The Youth Inter-Faith Network of Uganda and the Public Affairs Section of the American Embassy, Uganda in association with Students for Global Democracy Uganda (WSCSD Uganda Student Community), organized a public lecture at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, 26 th of February The participants to the event were drawn from youth organizations especially human rights and democratic based and other institutions in Uganda. The topic of the lecture was: Civic Responsibility and Youth Engagement The Guest Speaker at the lecture was Mr. Steve Wymer, Communications and Media Relations Expert, Tarrant and Wymer Leadership Group. The goal of the public lecture was to discuss the importance of transparency in elections, multiparty democracy, and the role of the citizen in engaging his/her government by both actively contributing to the development of the country as a citizen and demanding good governance in return. This included an engaged political culture at local level, and overcoming the perception that politics is a route to self-aggrandizement and wealth accumulation rather than public service. The objectives of the public lecture were: 1. To build the capacity of Ugandan youth and their leaders to be mobilizing agents who promote national identity and peaceful co-existence among different ethnic, religions and regional groups. 2. To prepare youth to be more involved in advocating and promoting justice, peace, democracy, good governance and development. The youth were encouraged to form six groups during the public lecture, so as to tackle six major issues which affect the youth in Uganda, and among the issues included; unemployment, poverty, HIV/AIDS, corruption, lack of trust in young people etc. Most of the youth said that, the

2 government has not been helpful in formulating policies which tackle unemployment and blamed government officials for being corrupt. The guest speaker, Mr. Steve Wymer argued the youth not to just blame the government, but take up an active role and be good role models in changing their communities. This public lecture was an eye opener to SGD Uganda members who participated, that instead of putting each and every blame on our leaders, we are also stakeholder in the development of our nation and we can be role models in initiating ideas and implementing them to scale up the development process of our nation. SGD Uganda staff members who attended this public lecture included Mike Gesa Munabi, President, Francis Kabagambe, Programmes Manager and Advisor, Martin Joe Nkoba, Public Relations Manager and Agnes Amooti Namiyingo, member Official Launch of the Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs 24 th March 2009 On the 24 th of March 2009, SGD Uganda, with an invitation from the Uganda National Youth Council, to which we are members, did actively participate at the Official Launching of the Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs, which took place at the parliamentary conference room. The event started at 8: 30 9: 00 am, with registration of youth and other participants which were conducted by Miss Monica Amoding and Monday Rona from the Secrtariat. The chief guest at this launching ceremony was the Ugandan Parliamentary Speaker, Hon. Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi, who arrived at around 10:00am. Hon. Rose Nalubega who is the Founder and first Chairperson of this Forum was in charge of introductions, and she gave welcoming remarks, she emphasized the youth to take note and get concerned about the parliament affairs and proceedings, since they are the next leaders. The Country Representative of UNFPA who gave a keynote address said that currently, the youth in Uganda are faced with numerous challenges in all spheres of life; 41% of the unemployed comprise the youth this coupled with, the high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, limited access to and quality education. In addition, they are subject to the consequences of corruption, human rights abuses, poor accountability and un-equal resource distribution, and she argued all development partners to take an active role in helping young people, and youth themselves to change their immoral behaviors not to catch HIV/AIDS. Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi emphasized the need to involve youth at the centre of planning and implementation, policies are critical in addressing challenges affecting the youth and thus youth participation in policy making and implementation would provide an opportunity for their concerns and interests to be incorporated. This launching ceremony was attended by Mike Gesa Munabi, President and Francis Kabagambe, Programmes Manager and Advisor. Clothe and Soap Donations to the Refugee Community August 2009 Students for Global Democracy Uganda staff members in conjunction with LEO Club of Kampala Host carried out a used clothes drive by arguing all members of the two partner organizations to collect used clothes from their homes, relatives, friends and well-wishers for donation to the

3 refugee community living in Kisenyi II Zone, Kampala, Central Constituency. Most of the refugees came from Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and very few from Rwanda. The event took place on Sunday the 9th of August, 2009 and it was largely attended by both members of SGD Uganda, Leo Club of Kampala Host and well wishers. Mike Munabi, the SGD Uganda President coordinated the clothe drive and Ronnie Sewava, the Leo Past President was in-charge of donating the items which also included laundry soap bought with our own savings. Mr. Zziwa, the Local Councilor of Kisenyi II Zone in Kampala Central who was also the chief guest, thanked the two youth organizations for their good brotherly heart manifested to the foreigners and called upon other stakeholders to come on board and show the same spirit. Ronnie Sewava, who spoke on behalf of the two organizations at the function, said that, it is our social responsibility as young people to give a helping hand to our fellow Africans in need, as the African spirit calls for, and he encouraged other people to follow the same spirit of being a blessing to those in lack. Uganda s Electoral Law and Institutional Framework: Perspectives for 2011 Elections Workshop 25 th August 2009 The Makerere University Convocation through Uganda Youth National Council, to which we are members, invited Students for Global Democracy Uganda -WSCSD Uganda Student Community to participate in the Uganda s Electoral Law and Institutional Framework: Perspective for 2011 Elections Workshop which took place at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala on the 25 th of August, The opening and welcome remarks were made by the Chairman, Makerere University Convocation and Country Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, who were the sponsors of the event. The Session Chairman, Council Asuman Basalirwa introduced the panelists who included Hon. Justice Joseph Mulenga, formerly a Judge of the Supreme Court of Uganda, who opened the discussion, citing the country s political history, former regimes and history of the country s democratization process, particularly the former held elections. Justice Joseph Mulenga, who was among the panel of the five judges during the 2001 and 2006 election petition respectively by the opposition leader, Retired Colonel. Kiiza Besigye said that, the government at some extent has tried to be committed, in principle to the human rights, but there are still gaps of a critical nature hindering overall attainment of freedom and basic rights in Uganda. He added that, the notion of free and fair election continues to elude the country. Indeed, on a petition ruling by constitutional court following 2001 and 2006 elections respectively, all of us (Judges), conceded that rigging took place during the voting. And worst of all, during the presidential elections in 2006, the leading opposition candidate was detained during campaigns on charges of rape that later the court dismissed with a judge describing as scandalous. Even lower level elections of Parliament, Local Government and Village have been marred by Voter- Buying. The Second Panelist, member of the East African Legislature and on the opposition side cited intimidation by military and outright stuffing of all ballot boxes in favor of candidates loyal to incumbent political party. He added that, it is not worth that underlying such a scenario is lack of adequate civil education among the populace, but due leaders resolute to cling onto power among other factors.

4 The third panelist, Hon. Stephen Biraahwa Mukitala, Member of Parliament for Bulisa and royal to the ruling party (National Movement Organization), praised the government for the freedom of expression and speech. The freedom of expression appears granted in that there are local media houses including private publishers and over 100 radio stations. This situation is enabling in terms of cultural sensitization, socio-economic information and to some extent, political discourse After the panelists, general discussion were invited and among them was the Conservative Party President, Hon. Ken Lukyamuzi, who criticized the government leaders greed for power and the need to change procedure of appointment of Uganda Electoral Commission officials by the president, since we are now in a multiparty system of government. Hon. Erias Lukwago, a Member of Parliament for Kampala Central and Legal Advisor for the Democratic Party, criticized the government and the election commission for the poor and lack of enough sensitization of the populace on their right to vote and he argued the officials of the electoral commission to resign, because of being partisan and incompetent. As members of SGD Uganda after this workshop, we thought there is need for the young generation to actively participate in the democratization process of our nation, and we can achieve this, through educating our fellow youth, principally students about the fundamental principles of human rights and democracy. We have too resolved to get actively involved in election observations, monitoring and reporting and provision of civic education to our populace principally the students on electoral process, constitutionalism and petition the electoral commission to conduct free and fair election and more so, to argue our leaders to respect the electorates right to vote the candidates of their choice. SGD UGANDA Current Activities Establishment of SGD Uganda Human Rights Clubs We have started the process of initiating SGD Uganda Human Rights Clubs in the various higher institutions of learning i.e Makerere University, Kampala International University, Kampala, University, Kyambogo University, Makerere University Business School, Multitech Accountancy Institute etc We have identified potential people to head these clubs in their respective institution and we are yet to hold a meeting on how to go about it. Volunteering for SEAL THE DEAL - UN Climate Change Petition I am spearheading all members of SGD Uganda to volunteer on the SEAL THE DEAL, the Climate Change Petition by the United Nations Campaign on Climate Change; we are moving around the community looking for signatures to be presented to governments of the world in Copenhagen in December The Climate petition is a consolidation of global appeals for a definitive agreement on climate change. So we are requesting our fellow country men to choose this historic moment to make a difference, and add their voice to the climate petition. As of now, we have collected mob signatures to be handed over to the National Environmental Management Authority. For more information please visit Seal the Deal Website:

5 Planet Call Declaration -Campaign We are also actively involved in the Planet Call Project, Partners of WSCSD on the UN International Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen; I have requested and encouraged all members of SGD Uganda to participate and invite relatives, friends and well wishers via the internet to join this call by signing a declaration and help reach the goal of 1 million signatures. Most of SGD Uganda members have already responded to the call. International Climate Change Day- 24 th October 2009 We plan to join the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Climate Action; we are planning it under the request of 350, a youth Climate Change organization and it s about uniting the world around a common call to climate and we shall ask all everyone to be a stakeholder. We shall commemorate it in a simple way, just taking a group photo and holding a banner with number 350 For more information please visit: