“U-Report is one of the most innovative ways of engaging young people,
it has helped in informing Government of the key issues affecting the youth and
also provided solutions that can be undertaken to address them. This has made
our work as Ministry a lot easier. As Ministry and as Government we are proud
of the U-reporters’ work”, thus remarked Mondo Kyateka, the Commissioner
for children and youth affairs.
Hon. Mondo mentioned this
at a one day conference for U-reporters at Ndere Center in Ntinda, Kampala on
30.04.2012.
Clad in purple T-shirts, and blue U-report
Tags hanging gracefully along their necks, the smart, brilliant and excited
U-reports gathered for the first U-report Conference ever.
The
conference that was by organized by UNICEF brought together approximately 100
top U-reporters, Members of Parliament and other UNICEF partners like Scouts
Association of Uganda, RIC-NET, GEM, BRAC, Church of Uganda and BOSCO among
others.
The
purpose of the Conference was to create a platform where the youth (Ureporters)
can meet together with stakeholders from Government and the Diplomatic core to
discuss issues that affect them.
Opening the Conference,
Hon. Mondo noted that the Ministry of Gender has an asset based strategy that looks
at young people as part of the solution to the development problems that they (young
people) face. He said “this is because they
(youth) know their problems better and can identify solutions to them..thus the
routine question and answer exercise done by the U-reporters has served to supplement this
strategy”.
Mondo also challenged the
youth to be pro-active and relevant people in society. Saying they should stand
to do something that they will be remembered for. The enthusiastic Commissioner
further told the youth that most people who have impacted on society have done
so during their youthful days citing Jesus, Mohamed and Steve Jobs as examples.
“If you have nothing to live for, find
something to die for, be that U-reporter that will change society for the
better”, Mondo roared.
Finally
he thanked the U-reporters for their views and answers about the situation of
the youth in the country saying their concerns provided guidance into the Youth
policy that has been under review and due for launch on 12th
Aug.2012 (National Youth Day).
Other dignitaries at the Conference
were Honorable Members of Parliament; Hon. Kyakweri Lydia Woman Member of Parliament
Kweni District, Hon. Rwabuhoro Flavia Woman Member of Parliament Kyegegwa
District, Hon. Florence Mutyabula Woman Member of Parliament, Namutumba
District, Hon. Acheng Ruth Woman Member of Parliament, Kole District, Hon.
Kiwana Godfrey Subi, Member of Parliament, Mityana North, and Hon. Dorothy Woman
Member of Parliament, Kamwenge District.
In their interaction with
the Honorable Members of Parliament the U-reporters sought to understand several
things from the MPs, key among others were; what the biggest challenge in
fighting corruption is for the leaders, what steps they have done to address
corruption and what motivation they would give the youth to do so. Secondly the
youth also inquired of the MPs what they were doing to address youth issues in
their constituencies.
Responding to the corruption
questions raised, the honorables acknowledged that the biggest challenge in the
fight against corruption is with the definition of corruption, exclaiming that
most times it is either broadened or narrowed hence making it difficult to deal
with. They noted that there is need to have the definition put out clear first
if the fight against corruption must be effective.
The MPs also asserted that continuous
sensitization of the masses on the ills of corruption is necessary for it would
help in changing people’s attitude towards corruption as a cool life style. In
emphasis, Hon. Acheng Ruth called upon the Youth/U-reporters to join the 9th
parliament to expose and end corruption, “let
us say to corruption, you must end with our generation and never trickle to the
next one”! Ruth appealed.
Adding to this, Hon. Kiwana
Godfrey Subi noted that as youths, the only aspiration in life should be to
succeed but first they need to prepare for it and live good lives for
everything that success brings requires to find one prepared and in good
health.
During
the conference, U-reporters were engaged in a series of activities;
interactions with each other since they were meeting for the first time, group
works where they discussed various issues like how they have used U-report to
change their societies, the challenges they face, what can be done to keep U-reporters
motivated and the mandate of U-report district delegates among others.
The U-reporters were also
treated to breathe taking Music interludes by Xabu Music group, who filled the
air with sweet feelings, relaxation and excitement.
Summing up the Conference,
James Powell the UNICEF U-report Project Manager, thanked everyone for their
support towards the success of this event. He specifically thanked European
Union for the support, the MPs and government at large for believing in the
project and always paying attention to the issues raised by the U-reporters and
majorly to the U-reporters for their interest in the project and their
continued response to the U-report poll questions.
Powell said that despite
the fact that U-report is a new strategy to engage the youth, it has in a very
short time proved to be the most effective way of engaging the youth in the
decision making processes of the Government and also of getting the youth to
cause positive impact in society.
He appealed to Government
to continue supporting the platform and responding to the issues raised by the
U-reporters and to the U-reporters to continue reporting on the
social/development challenges in their localities, responding to U-report poll
questions and recruiting more U-reporters. James revealed that currently there
are approximately 115000
U-reporters in the Country and they still look at recruiting even more.
He crowned the event with
offering each U-reporter a Google solar Charger to keep their phones charged
and in position to report anytime, anywhere.
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