Under the Parliament Connect program, and specifically the Advancing Legislation through Youth-Led Advocacy project, the Faraja Africa Foundation (FAF) is pleased to announce the 7th National Youth Parliament (NYP) session, scheduled for August 16, 2024. The 7^th sitting will be held in commemoration of this year’s International Youth Day theme: “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.”  Over 400 young people from West Nile, Acholi, Karamoja, Lango, Bugisu, Teso, Bukedi, Busoga, Rwenzori, Ankole, Kigezi, and Buganda subregions, among others, met in Pakwach, Gulu, Mbale, Jinja, Mukono, Mbarara, and Fort Portal during the Sub-National Youth Parliaments. Key issues raised by young people for the government to address revolve around economic empowerment, good governance, freedom of speech, and democracy. These will shape the debate of the National Youth Parliament and petition by the young people to Parliament.

This year’s Youth Parliament sitting will convene over 200 young people and issues debated and passed will be tabled on the floor of Parliament through our Youth Members of Parliament. Youth that compose the National Youth Parliament include structures such as the National Youth Council (NYC), Uganda National Students Association (UNSA), Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Youth Affairs (UPFYA), youth leaders in grassroots communities, youth-led civil society organizations, the private sector, entrepreneurs, political party youth leagues, faith-based organizations, cultural institutions, among others.  A total of 406 youth voices have been collected across these regions in the amplification of the issues raised. During the main event, 200 youth representatives will present the issues raised in the form of a motion on the floor of Parliament, commissioned by the Speaker of Parliament. This event will also be broadcast live on the Faraja Television YouTube channel. The 200 youth representatives will be selected through a competitive online process and from existing youth leadership structures, ensuring a diverse and representative group of vocal youth from various sectors.

Since 2018, the Faraja Africa Foundation has successfully convened six National Youth Parliament sittings in Uganda and in the East African Community member states. This year’s 7th sitting is supported by The Civil Society in Uganda Support Program, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with funding from the European Union and the German Government alongside our other partners including Action Aid, KRC, WFD, Hashtag Gulu, Vijana Corp, Genius Generation Agenda, UYAHF, Power to Youth, Advance Afrika, among others. This event will be a pivotal moment, bringing together young leaders to actively participate in parliamentary and national decision-making processes, serving as a catalyst for advocacy efforts over the next year.