WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON REDUCING THE RETIREMENT AGE? - NKOZI STUDENTS

PUBLIC DIALOGUE AT UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY - NKOZI ON YOUTH AND TRANSFORMATION

30th March 2012

While addressing youths at Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi today, Ms Sarah Bireete, the Director of Programmes at the Center for Constitutional Governance challenged the students to get organised, put their clear demands forward ensure that they are implemented. She further challenged the youths to stop being used as foot soilders in implementing other peoples causes/issues.

This was during an interractive session and the students stated clearly that they do not like the status quo of governance in Uganda and they resolved to jointly work together and ensure that Uganda achieves meaningful transformation.

They agreed with the quote by Franz Fannon that every generation must define their cause and go ahead to fulfill or betray it.

The students further questioned the failure by Public Service to implement the Presidential Directive on reducing the retirement age in order to create space for the fresh graduates and the legitimacy of the current regime to properly administer oil revenues in order to benefit the majoirty Ugandans. They clearly stated that there is urgent need to bring to an end a government that is manipulated by a few Ugandans at the expense of the majority; a security syetem that cannot address the crisis the iron bar men have created in Uganda; a regime that lacks "ubuntu" in their priorities in resource allocation; a regime that has shifted from governance based on "For God and My Country" to "For God and My Stomach"; a country where quality education is a preserve of a few powerful families; a leadership that is extremely selfish, etc.

Based on the Garuga Declaration - a Declaration guided by the love for Uganda; made by the young people themselves, the students resolved as follows:

1. That they will provide relevant information on what the youth urgently need to do in order to deliver meaningful transformation to Ugandans;

2. That they will leave by example and popularise the Garuga Declaration;

3. That they will cultivate the trustworthy virtue amongst the youths/students;

4. That they will educate fellow youths about current issues and continously engage meaningfully;

5. That they will build a spirit of slodarity amongst themselves;

6. They will renew their cultural values;

7. And they will be responsible for what they care about.

The students present adopted the Garuga Declaration by appending their signatures and resolved to popularise it accross Uganda.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.