4-9 July 2022 Kampala, Uganda. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Continental Secretariat with support of the Government of Uganda, Woman, Gender and Youth Directorate of the African Union, The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, International Organization for Migration, European Union in Uganda, UNICEF, GIZ and Youth for Tax Justice Network convened a successful 3rd APRM Youth Symposium. With over 800 participants from over 55 AU Member States, the gathering was geared at celebrating the African Union’s 20th Anniversary under the theme: [email protected]: Repositioning the Youth Agenda for a transformative continent. Moreover, the Symposium agenda was tailored to bring youth and decision makers for an intergenerational dialogue to upscale youth participation in democracy and good governance.The President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially opened the symposium in the presence of representatives of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Hon. Amara Kallon, Deputy Minister of Public and Political Affairs representing President Julius Bio the APR Forum Chairperson, Honourable Amos Lugoloobi, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development & APRM Focal Point in Uganda, ministers, ambassadors, heads of development partners delegations, and members of parliament, international and local delegates.Speaking at the opening ceremony , President Museveni said “ We cannot become prosperous by begging, but rather by being the vanguard of producing goods and services, protecting Africa against all threats, and guarding our countries against the politics of sectarianism stoked by external forces. The President of Uganda further noted that youth are here for a longer time than his generation, therefore should know that Africa is the cradle of man, pioneer of civilisation and saviour of all modern religions; Africa is ONE, its people are similar and linked, and it is through UNITY that Africa will overcome anything.
The APRM Continental Secretariat CEO, Prof Eddy Maloka called on young people to actively participate in democracy and good governance in their countries and upscale their support to regional and continental initiatives. He further invited participants to provide inputs and validate the APRM Youth Toolkit for Targeted Reviews. Mr Lennon Monyae, the APRM Youth Liaison Officer in his opening statement encouraged young people to engage the AU and its various organs constructively and be solution oriented in assisting the African Union reform.
Youth delegates utilized the Symposium’s panel discussions and Break Away sessions to provide the APRM with a set of recommendations aimed at advising APRM Heads of States with the expectation for an APR Forum Decision on Upscaling Youth Participation in Democracy and Good Governance. The outcome document of the Symposium was received by H.E Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, Vice-President of the Republic of Uganda and Representatives of the AU Permanent Representative Council (PRC) from Uganda, The Gambia, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone. Senior officials present at the closing ceremony committed to champion the youth agenda and escalate the calls for action through relevant AU and APRM structures for implementation.
