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Ugandan CSOs call for Amendment of the National Youth Act

Published

9 years ago

on

By witnessradio.org Team

“Youth elections conducted under electoral colleges are discriminative and limit fair competition. Any law that provides for such system must be amended before next election…”says CCEDU

The Citizen’s Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda [CCEDU] wants the next Youth Parliamentary leaders to be elected through adult suffrage, faulting the current college system for promoting mainly a single party the National Resistance Movement.

CCEDU’s Voice project manager Lydia Namayengo said they have kicked off consultations with a goal of soliciting for views from all youths across the country that would lead to possible amendments.

Another amendment is to have an increment in funding of youth council leadership for dedicated service. According to the National Youth Act, members of the youth council are not paid any salaries. The law also provides for a secretariat which has never existed because of lack of resources.  This leaves youth leaders with no offices or facilitation for their work affecting productivity.

CCEDU also wants the composition of the Youth council revisited and allow the youth age cap be raised to 35 for uniformity with the international conventions. According to the National Youth Act, a youth is a person between the age of 18-30 years and yet other countries and organizations like the United Nations puts it at between 18-35.

On November 14th, the network of electoral reformists, started the campaign by meeting district youth chairpersons, youth leaders, youth from political parties, student’s leaders and youth leaders from cultural institutions in the central region among others.

During the meetings, several youth leaders agreed with the proposal to have the law revisited to allow full participation. The youths were however divided based on political affiliations resulting into verbal attacks during the heated meeting.

One of the Democratic Party (DP) youth Leaders Paul Ssembajjwe contested the current provision in the National Youth Act which mandates any youth MP contestant to pay registration fee of 3million shillings, saying this has eliminated many potential but poor youth leaders.

Relatedly, Kyenjojo FDC youth chairman, Moses Byaruhanga said the council is currently dominated by the ruling party.  “Out of all the districts in the country, its only Rukungiri that has an opposition party representative to the council, personally I contested and the elections were pushed forward because the NRM didn’t have a strong candidate…all this needs to change to ensure multiparty politics is respected and the opposition granted equal rights …” Byaruhanga emphasized.

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NGO WORK

1st Eastern Africa Indigenous seed conference 2026

Published

5 days ago

on

June 30, 2026

By

For too long, indigenous and local seeds and livestock breeds and the farmers who nurture them have been overlooked in conversations about the future of our food systems. It’s time to change that!

The 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference is an opportunity for all of us; farmers, pastoralists, researchers, policymakers, civil society, and development partners; to bring back to the centre what truly matters: our seeds, our food, and our future.

From 17th–20th November 2026, we will come together at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi, Kenya, to share knowledge, celebrate indigenous seeds and livestock diversity, strengthen Farmer-Managed Seed Systems, build partnerships, influence policy, and amplify the voices of the communities that continue to conserve and protect our seed heritage.

If you believe that resilient food systems begin with farmers and the seeds they steward, then this conference is for you.

Register today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTmZuwKbldfKRHBF4I62lquRLNRsGPWG5WUGi3KzupIkzy6w/viewform

📍 17–20 November 2026

📍 Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi, Kenya

Our Seeds, Our Food, Our Future.

Source: eaindigenousseedconference.org

Related posts:

1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference 2026 | EA-ISC Nairobi The Indigenous Seeds movement in East Africa is convening in Kenya, with the potential to reshape the region’s food systems. Witness Radio and Seed Savers Network are partnering to produce radio content to save indigenous seeds in Africa. Seed Boot Camp: A struggle to conserve local and indigenous seeds from extinction. Seed Sovereignty: Most existing and emerging laws and policies on seeds are endangering seed saving and conservation on the African continent.
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NGO WORK

1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference 2026 | EA-ISC Nairobi

Published

4 weeks ago

on

June 8, 2026

By

The largest Indigenous Seed gathering in Eastern Africa is happening this November!

From 17th–20th November 2026, farmers, pastoralists, community seed banks, researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, and development partners will gather at the Catholic University of Eastern

Africa (CUEA), Nairobi, Kenya for the 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference.

At a time when climate change, biodiversity loss, and shrinking access to locally adapted seeds continue to threaten our food systems, this conference will provide a much-needed platform to strengthen Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS), advance seed sovereignty, and ensure that farmers remain at the centre of the conversations and solutions shaping our food future.

There are many ways to be part of this historic gathering:

  • Register as a participant
  • Join the planning committees and help shape the programme
    -Organise a side event
  • Submit an abstract, story, video, audio piece, artwork, or research paper
  • Exhibit your work, innovations, products, or community initiatives
  • Support farmer and community participation
  • Partner with us as a sponsor or co-organiser

This is an opportunity to build a vibrant regional community of practice, strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and amplify farmer voices across Eastern Africa.

Register for the conference: https://eaindigenousseedconference.org/registration-abstract

Join us in planning as a co organiser: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSf6XOWaGnV…/viewform…

#indigenousSeedsEA2026 #SeedSovereignty #UnitedForLocalSeeds

Source: eaindigenousseedconference.org

Related posts:

The Indigenous Seeds movement in East Africa is convening in Kenya, with the potential to reshape the region’s food systems. Witness Radio and Seed Savers Network are partnering to produce radio content to save indigenous seeds in Africa. Seed Boot Camp: A struggle to conserve local and indigenous seeds from extinction. The Witness Radio and Seed Savers Network Joint Radio program boosts Farmers’ knowledge of seed and food sovereignty. Seed Sovereignty: Most existing and emerging laws and policies on seeds are endangering seed saving and conservation on the African continent.
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NGO WORK

UN Experts Put Tanzanian Government on Notice – “Ensure Transparency and Respect for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Ngorongoro”

Published

2 months ago

on

April 23, 2026

By

April 17, 2026 press release from the offices of eight UN Special Rapporteurs1 calls for the Tanzanian government to immediately publish the findings of two presidential commissions amid growing concerns over its eviction plans.
The communication echoes the Oakland Institute’s warning that these sham Presidential Commissions are being used to rubber-stamp eviction plans without the consent of the Indigenous community.
The strongly-worded communication from the UN Special Rapporteurs states that “these reports are of profound public interest and must be made available to the public without delay…Decisions affecting tens of thousands of Indigenous Peoples cannot be taken behind closed doors.” The experts furthermore urge “the Government to halt any actions that could lead to forced displacement, and engage in meaningful dialogue with affected communities,” while issuing a clear reminder that “Indigenous Peoples have a right to remain on their traditional lands if they so choose…Conservation efforts must not come at the expense of human rights.”
Impacted Maasai communities welcome this intervention from the UN Special Rapporteurs and reaffirm their commitment to defend their rights to remain on their ancestral lands.
To learn more about the struggle against Fortress Conservation, watch the interview: The Dark Side of “Conservation”
On Fox 5 DC Weekend Live, Julie Donaldson interviews Andy Currier, Oakland Institute’s Policy Analyst. Watch the discussion on fortress conservation and the human cost of climate solutions that displace Indigenous communities who best protect our biodiversity.
Watch the video

Source: oaklandinstitute.org

Related posts:

The Oakland Institute Calls on the Tanzanian Presidential Land Commissions to Respect & Ensure Rights of Maasai Living in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Sham Presidential Commissions Rubber Stamp Tanzanian Government’s Efforts to Evict Indigenous Maasai from Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzanian Government’s Sustained Campaign Against the Maasai in Loliondo and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area URGENT ALERT: Tanzanian Government on a Rampage Against Indigenous People Call to Sever Ties with Tanzanian Government Over Latest Human Rights Abuses Against the Maasai
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