Kampala, UGANDA – Open Space Centre, in partnership with the National Youth Council and with support from the British High Commission, hosted a national level Africa Youth Day symposium on 1st November 2021, at Fairway Hotel Kampala.

The event kicked off at exactly 9:00 am under the theme: Youth Participation in Local Government Processes: Models and Emerging Opportunities. The Youth Members of Parliament, the National Youth Council Executive, public servants from line MDAs and youth leaders from CSOs, and informal youth groups in attendance were all provided a platform to interact and gain an understanding of the emerging opportunities provided by the Parish Development Model that was being rolled out amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was broadcast live on NTV Uganda later on at 11:00 am, with a panel discussion comprising of Emmanuel Kitamirike, Policy Analyst; Jacob Eyeru, Chairperson National Youth Council Uganda; Edison Rugumayo, Youth Member of Parliament for Western Uganda; and Rachel Konso, a Youth from the informal sector. The same discussion also featured online discussions that benchmarked on real-life experiences and lessons from other African countries lived by the youth there.

The keynote address on Youth Participation Opportunites presented by the Parish Development Model was delivered by Ogwal David Obia, Principal Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Local Government.

Obia stated the seven pillars of the model and highlighted the importance of the Parish Chiefs and agents in the drive thereof. He further encouraged the youth to take up responsibility and participate.

“Parish chiefs and agents are the key drivers of the Parish Development Model and thus people are called to come and take up the available vacancies,” he said, “ Farmers at parish level will get access to markets for their crops such as coffee, cotton, cocoa, cassava, tea, vegetables, palm oil, maize, rice, sugarcane,  and fish among others.”

Jacob Eyeru, Chairperson of the National Youth Council Uganda, emphasized the need for good publicity of models and strategies such as the Parish Development Model among the youth so as to ensure its success.

“It is important that the leaders talk about the benefits of the Parish Development Model,” he said, “The challenge that many government programs face is bad publicity and the lack of citizen monitoring. We need to ensure that the publicity is good, and the programs therefore successful.”

Hon. Edison Rugumayo, Youth Member of Parliament for Western Uganda, delivered the concluding remarks and encouraged the youth to participate and make use of the Parish Development Model for their own benefit.

“The Parish Development Model is not simply a program. It is a strategy of communities and villages coming together to carry out activities encompassing all the seven pillars therein. Therefore, whenever the need arises, think of how you can make use of the model for the benefit of all,” he said.

The event concluded successfully, with policymakers, elected youth leaders, and relevant stakeholders having been provided a platform to have an engaging dialogue around meaningful youth participation in local government processes.