By Enatu Steven
The Teso Youth Agenda, a prominent advocacy group representing the interests of young people across the Teso region, has called for an urgent meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to discuss the numerous challenges facing the youth in the area. The group expressed growing frustration over unfulfilled promises, including commitments to fund district-level groups and establish skilling hubs, which have yet to materialize.
Speaking on behalf of the Teso Youth Agenda, spokesperson Francis Orisa highlighted the struggles that young people in the region face in accessing educational opportunities, despite the presence of institutions like Soroti University and the Soroti Civil Aviation School. Orisa lamented that only a few youths from Teso have been able to benefit from these institutions due to the prohibitive costs.
“Teso youth have repeatedly asked the government to include them in state scholarship programs for the East African Aviation School in Soroti City. This would not only elevate the education levels in the region but also increase the number of professionals from Teso,” Orisa stated. He emphasized that many parents and guardians are unable to afford the tuition fees required for their children to pursue advanced courses at these institutions.
“We have the aviation school right here, but how many students from Teso are enrolled? The government needs to prioritize scholarships for our sons and daughters in this region who are qualified to study at the aviation school,” he added.
The group also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of representation from Teso in the Office of the President, noting that only one person from the region currently holds a position there.
During a press conference today, Teso Youth Agenda Chairperson Isaac Onyait pointed out that the upcoming International Youth Day celebration on August 12th would serve as a critical moment to remind the President of his unfulfilled pledges to the youth of Teso.
“We mobilized people across the Teso region to endorse President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as a sole candidate. On that day, even Her Excellency the Vice President, Jessica Alupo, promised us UGX 50 million. We opened accounts at the regional and district levels, but it’s disheartening that we haven’t received any funds for two years now,” Onyait lamented.
Among the other unfulfilled promises, Onyait mentioned the distribution of 19 heifers to each member of the youth council and the provision of walking tractors for youth leaders, which have yet to be delivered. The Teso Youth Agenda is urging regional leaders to listen to their concerns and take concrete steps to address them.
Soroti City Youth Councilor, John Junior Okwii Ekutelek, underscored the importance of the issues being presented to the President, stating that they reflect the concerns of all youth across the district. “We need his audience; we’ve seen him meet youth in Kampala, even in the ghetto. We also have pressing issues that need attention. Our top leaders are not united, and this is why we want to meet the fountain of honor,” Okwii asserted.
The demands of the Teso Youth Agenda highlight the pressing need for national leaders to prioritize the needs and aspirations of young people in the region. Their call for an audience with President Museveni underscores the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by Teso’s youth, who continue to struggle with limited opportunities and unfulfilled promises.
International Youth Day, celebrated annually on August 12th, aims to bring youth issues to the forefront of the global agenda and to celebrate the potential of young people as active partners in society. This year, the national celebration will take place at Asuret Core PTC, with President Museveni as the chief guest. The theme for International Youth Day 2024 is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” emphasizing the critical role of digital technology in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).