By Daily West Nile
ARUA CITY
Host Hub Innovation Center has convened the first sitting of the Community Youth Parliament in Arua City, bringing together young people to discuss challenges affecting their participation in governance, economic opportunities and community development.
The sitting, held at Le Tsuba Hotel under the theme *“Strengthening Youth Leadership, Representation, and Inclusive Community Development in Uganda,”* focused on issues including high taxation, limited youth representation in decision-making spaces and the underutilisation of refugees' workforce.
The forum aims to provide young people with a platform to engage decision-makers, share their concerns and contribute to shaping local and national development priorities.
With more than 77 per cent of Uganda’s population below the age of 35, participants emphasised the importance of involving young people in decisions that affect their livelihoods and the country’s development.
The discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen youth leadership, promote inclusive governance and create more opportunities for young people to participate in policy formulation and implementation.
The parliament was informed by findings from baseline community consultations, a youth perception survey involving 130 respondents, the NAC and NAU Community Youth Parliament Project Framework, and a British Council-supported study on youth participation conducted in Kampala, Arua and Mbale.
The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between young people and decision-makers through dialogue, policy engagement and accountability, while ensuring that youth perspectives are considered in development planning.
The Community Youth Parliament is expected to provide a platform for young people to raise concerns affecting their communities and propose solutions to challenges that continue to limit their participation in Uganda’s development.
