Youth demand 35% of the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
Youth leaders through their umbrella body the National Youth Council (NYC) have raised their voices to the different stakeholders for an explicit 35% share of the Parish Development Model Funds in the different parishes across the country.
The government is set to roll out the implementation of Parish Development model early next year with the Parish Chiefs overseeing the progress in each parish meanwhile youth leaders have been given the monitoring roles and the young people are part of the beneficiaries.
Speaking at the 59th Independence Day Celebrations, the president of the republic of Uganda H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said the Parish Development Model and the EMYOOGA programs are aimed at empowering young people through creating jobs for them and increasing the domestic household income.
Jacob Eyeru, the chairperson NYC while addressing leaders of the NYC from the greater Masaka region pointed out the need for government to recognized the youth as a priority bracket in the development of the country. “PDM should seek to protect the youth within the social development of a community.” He spoke. Noting that the funds have no allocations yet, Mr. Jacob Eyeru believes that the level of advocacy being introduced by the NYC will push government to address this as matters of national development.
The national youth council will continue with orientation of youth leaders across the country as Busoga region awaits. Among the growing concerns from the youth leaders are, follow-up of presidential pledges, under declaration of youth funds by district leaders and a follow-up training on the Parish Development Model and monitoring roles.
By Daniel Olara
