Uganda Youth Forum SPECIAL EDITION Magazine August 2014 Vol. 1 Issue No. 2 www.ugandayouthforum.org UGX 3,000 Youth Potential Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba Life Skills Unlocking Business the mind set & Health Tips: Stopping Drug Addiction Edwin Ruyonga’s spiritual struggle Relationships Nursing a broken heart An Empowered Healthy & Focused Youth Editorial Table of Content Letters to the Editor Publisher Uganda Youth Forum Managing Editor Dr. James Magara Editor-in-Chief Letters to the Editor 3 Leonard Imanishimwe Patron’s Message 4 Guest Editor Eve Barnett Chairman’s Message 5 Editorial Intern. Executive Director’s Message Joan Birungi Tibaijuka 6 Edwin Ruyonga Circulation & Marketing 8 Uganda Youth Forum Youth Representation in Parliament 11 Contributors: Recovery from Addiction by Abdul 16 Dr. James Magara Leonard Imanishimwe Essential life skills 18 Eve Barnett Doreen Karokora N. Barigye Unlocking the Mind Set 19 Elizabeth Nuwe Afidra Robert Buru Father Grimes 21 Julian Sarah Ayesiga Abdul Fatah Yahaya Letter from Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba 25 Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba Mark Kakitahi Challenges Facing Youth Mrs. Olivia Twinamatsiko Mugaba 26 Beverley Nambozo Nsegiyunva Youth Minister - Bunyoro Mwine Mpaka 27 Martha Ainomugisha Mugisa Youth in Western Uganda 28 Publication Consultant UYF Protects the Goal 30 Ms. Robie Kakonge Mob: +256 712 802 332 UYF Alumni Reflection 31 Email: [email protected] Relationships 33 Designer: Building Health Relationships 35 Fred Iga Mob: +256 757 962 895 Service Providers 37 Email: [email protected] UYF Fundraising Dinner 42 UYF Magazine © 2014 All Rights Reserved UYF contacts Plot 12, Malcolm X Avenue, Kololo P.O. Box 24778, Kampala Tel: +256 414 258 682 Fax: +256 414 258 680 Email: [email protected] Letters to the Editor Editor’s Comments: Dear Readers, we thank you for the overwhelming positive response to the new UYF magazine. We are sharing some of the letters we received, and encourage you to continue writing to us,you’re welcome to submit your own articles for publication to: Plot 12, Malcolm X Avenue, Kololo P. O. Box 24778, Kampala . Email: [email protected] Congratulations Uganda Youth Forum Dear Editor, I thank you and congratulate Uganda Youth Forum for giving us our own magazine. John Kavuma Kampala UYF has listened and learned Dear Editor, True Love Waits UYF has listened and learned about what Dear Editor, the youth care about for more than 20 This year was even more exciting when you years now, thank you for representing launched the new magazine at the forum. our own interests in your new magazine. I was truly inspired by the story about true We look forward to reading more positive love waits in your magazine, and it meant a stories about the youth. lot when Mbabazi Jackson also spoke to us during the forum and brought his family as well. Timothy Kalule Jinja Anita Kuteesa Entebbe African Inspired fashion Dear Editor, Thank you for the story on fashion, as the youth we must look good, and it was encouraging to see such amazing African inspired fashions from our own Ugandan designer Brenda Maraka. I want to be a fashion designer myself, and hope someday to be in your magazine. Stella Namazzi Kampala PATRON’S MESSAGE Commemorating International Youth Day t gives me great pleasure and honor to Icongratulate young people on the International Youth Day. I want to thank Uganda Youth Forum for producing this special edition magazine in commemoration of this important day. Uganda has over the years seen a rapidly growing young population presenting great opportunities for this nation. Currently about 6.5 million (21.3%) Ugandans are between 18-30 years. The number of young people in Uganda is projected to grow to 7.7million by 2015. The youth have a great potential that needs to be harnessed through knowledge, skilling and productive work. I am happy to note that the Uganda Youth Forum has continued to empower young people in Uganda through creating forums for dialogue and advocacy, economic empowerment and livelihood improvement, promoting access to information and life skills. This special edition of the youth magazine provides a unique opportunity to reach out to the target audience, profile young people making a difference, promote culture and obtain feedback from the young people not only in this nation but also in the world. The destiny of our nation is in our hands, we build it for the better by supporting and empowering our young people. I believe that the youth of this nation are the pillars to the world’s transformation. I appeal to young people to stay away from drugs, teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS as these destroy their entire lives. Please stay focused on your studies and careers because you owe a lot to your parents, friends, communities and all those who love and care for you. STAY SAFE, STAY ALIVE AND STAY HOPEFUL remember the world looks up to you for solutions in tackling the social needs and challenges. I want to reaffirm my commitment and continued support to the young people of this nation and my readiness to work with all stakeholders in making Uganda a better place for our young people. Thank you and God bless you. “For God and my Country” Hon. Janet K. Museveni Founder and Patron 4 Uganda Youth Forum (UYF) Magazine 2014 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) singles out youth as a key target group. Target 16 of the MDGs is “to develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth.” The 2007 World Development Report published by the World Bank also focuses on youth, signalling a growing awareness among governments, development partners, and civil society about the actual and potential roles youth play in the development process. In line with Uganda’s International Youth Day theme of “Unlocking Youth Potential for Sustainable Development,” Uganda Youth Forum will continue to invest in programs and ideas that enhance social and economic responsibilities. It will also continue providing opportunities for young people to be the best they can be and lead productive and On behalf of the Board of Directors of transformed lives through life skills trainings, Uganda Youth Forum (UYF), I have the fostering entrepreneurship, creating forums pleasure of inviting our readers to this special for advocacy, and promoting leadership, edition of the Uganda Youth Forum Magazine patriotism and community service. in commemoration of the International Youth Day on August 12, 2014. I sincerely appreciate all those who actively participated in producing this special edition Uganda has the youngest population in the in commemoration of the International Youth world because children below 15 years of Day 2014. Thank you all for your continued age constitute more than 50 percent of the support to Uganda Youth Forum and its population. Uganda’s population is currently activities. growing by about 1 million people per year, and, given the force of this demographic Dr. James Magara momentum, Uganda will see high rates of Chairman, Board of Directors population growth for decades to come. Uganda’s demographic situation impacts all aspects of its development – from economic growth to quality of education to health care provisions. Governance, political stability, security, and adaptation to climate change are also deeply influenced by the structure of our population. While the large number of young people in Uganda’s population has the potential to become a tremendous asset, Uganda’s youth need opportunities to prosper. 5 Uganda Youth Forum (UYF) Magazine 2014 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Celebrating and Recognizing the youth Dear Readers, Warm greetings from Uganda Youth Forum (UYF) Secretariat, we welcome you to this Special Edition of the UYF Magazine commemorating the International Youth Day that is celebrated on 12th August annually. We join the rest of the world in congratulating young people on this special day that celebrates and recognizes the youth as a vibrant and key sector of our population. This magazine covers both the International Theme (Youth and Mental Health Matters) and the Local Theme (Unlocking Youth Potential For Sustainable Development). You will read about the life inspiring and impactful story of Edwin Ruyonga’s spiritual struggle; Abdul Fatah’s recovery from drug abuse; life skills and the power of attitude change; the illustrious career of Father Grimes; and ideas on building health relationships. The debate on whether the youth are being effectively represented in Parliament and advice from Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba (PhD) on unlocking youth potential, and list of service providers. We pay special tribute to our Guest Editor Ms. Eve Barnett from Princeton University for her insight and commitment while working on this magazine. We thank the contributors for their wonderful and insightful articles, we appreciate the support and feedback since our last magazine and are pleased to have you as a reader of the UYF Special Edition Magazine in Commemoration of the International Youth Day 2014. With warmest regards, Leonard Imanishimwe Editor-in-Chief. 6 Uganda Youth Forum (UYF) Magazine 2014 STUDY IN UGANDA AND GRADUATE FROM FRANCE Prof. Wasswa Balunywa Phd Deputy Chair, ESLSCA Council MIBA Students celebrating with their lecturer ESLSCA Staff attending to visitors Edwin Ruyonga: Edwin RuyongaBenches to Blessings thought he was going to die. Shivering as he tried to fall asleep on a random bench in Illinois, United States, he had no where to go and no one to call. He spent most of his time rapping and partying, and his only friends were the bartenders who got him drunk. He decided that, if he made it through the night, he would call the only family member he had not estranged: his cousin who lived in Las Vegas. Ruyonga tried, with varying degrees of success, to let his He eventually slept and, in the morning, made friends’ jabs roll off him.