The United Nations Association in Uganda (UNAU) has called for the creation of accessible platforms for Ugandan youth to learn about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute to their achievement, emphasizing the integration of SDGs into school curricula.

This call was made by Linda Asaba, UNAU’s Programs Manager and coordinator of the Accelerate SDGs initiative across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, during the closure of a two-day Youth Advocacy for SDGs Implementation event in Uganda.

Asaba, who believes in the power of capacity-building and awareness creation, stressed the critical role of Uganda’s youthful population—78% of the country’s total population—in achieving the SDGs. She emphasized that for Uganda to make significant strides towards sustainable development, young people must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills from an early age.

The event, which brought together young leaders from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, is part of a broader initiative supported by the United Nations Association of Finland. The first day of the event focused on peer-to-peer learning, allowing participants to share experiences and best practices from their respective countries. On the second day, attendees collaborated on developing actionable plans to implement SDG-related initiatives within their communities.

Asaba lauded Uganda’s efforts to localize the SDGs by integrating them into the National Development Plan and Vision 2040. However, she stressed the need for further efforts, particularly in creating avenues that allow every citizen to contribute meaningfully to the SDGs. “Uganda has done well in localizing the SDGs, but we can do more to push the agenda further,” she said.

Despite these efforts, Uganda is performing at an average rate of 52% in SDG achievement. According to Asaba, the country faces significant challenges, including limited resources to support youth capacity-building. “With 78% of Uganda’s population being youth, there is a need to ensure that every young person is skilled and knowledgeable, but the resources for this are limited,” she noted.

During the event, participants shared inspiring stories and best practices from their countries. Winnie Nina Joan Jo, the UNAU Chapter President at Kyambogo University, expressed her excitement about the workshop and pledged to work with fellow youth to localize the SDGs within her community. She highlighted the Tanzanian youth’s active involvement in political agendas as an example Uganda could learn from, urging greater participation of young people in driving SDG-related policies.

Isaac Nasasira, Uganda’s Youth Representative in Africa’s United Nations Youth Delegation Program, identified youth unemployment and limited access to digital tools as the main challenges facing Uganda’s youth. He called on the government to invest in providing affordable digital equipment and establish community centers where young people can access the necessary tools for research and learning.

The event concluded with a renewed sense of urgency and commitment among participants to continue advocating for the SDGs and ensuring that young people have the resources and opportunities they need to contribute to a more sustainable future.

Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi has summoned two city lawyers to answer criminal charges of fraud.

Lawyers Robert Senfuka and Umar Nyanzi of SK and partners Advocates are directed to appear before Magistrate Kayizzi on 2rd of December 2024 to answer charges of fraud in regard to alleged forgery of land sale agreements for sell of Kibanja in Katanga near Wandegeya.

“The accused persons are hereby directed to appear on December 2 this year. But also this is a matter that can be sorted before then” Kayizzi said when issuing the summons.

The two accused lawyers were supposed to appear in Court on 18th of November 2024 but their lawyers told court that their clients received the said summons when they already have serious appointments to handle but are ready to appear and defend themselves.

Kayizzi’s decision came after the private prosecutor, Patrick Furah revealed that the suspects were served through their lawyers and also via WhatsApp and confirmed receipt of the summons but were not in court.

Senfuka and Nyanzi are facing accusations of forgery, uttering false documents and conspiracy to commit a felony following a complaint filed by pastor Daniel Walugembe through his lawyers.

Walugembe alleges that the said lawyers under their law firm SK and patterners Advocates while acting for and on behalf of Dr Ntwatwa Lule in July 21 2023 committed criminal acts when knowingly and unlawfully altered sales agreements dated February 9, 1996 and August 13, 1996 respectively.

He alleges that the accused lawyers forged his agreement of February 9, 1996 and that August 13 1996 to indicate his MTN telephone numbers and that of his lawyer as well as bearing Land Act Cap 227 as the law under which the agreement was executed in 1996 did not exist but alter the authentic agreements acquired by Walugembe.

The complaint further states that the genuine and authentic sales agreements bore a certificate of translation whereas the forged ones did not.

Walugembe contends that the said agreements originated on behalf of Dr Ntwatwa thereby committing the offence of conspiracy to commit a felony before they were uttered before the Magistrates Court at LDC on July 10 2023 while cross examining him.

In August 14 2024, the Court at Buganda Road found that the alleged forged documents were uttered to the Deputy Registrar of the Land Division, Jeneva Natukunda who certified them ‘possibly in error’.

“I therefore do sanction the charges of forgery of the said sales agreement, uttering of false documents and conspiracy to commit a felony. I also issue criminal summons against the person complained against who are Robert Senfuka and Umar Nyanzi,” reads the court ruling.

It is alleged that on July 21 2023, the law firm, SK and partners Advocates while representing Dr Ntwatwa petitioned the head of Land Division accusing Walugembe of fraud and indicated that for further particulars, the court can contact Robert Senfuka or Mr Umar Nyanzi.

A case of forgery is contrary to Section 342 and 347 of the Penal Code Act, Uttering false documents is contrary to Section 351 while Conspiracy to commit a felony is contrary to Section 390 of the Penal Code Act and the convict is likely to face not more than seven years imprisonment.

Pheobe Mutoni, Chairperson of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda (SHAU), called on the government to reconsider the imposition of an 18% tax on diapers as part of the Value Added Tax amendment for 2024/2025. Speaking during the commemoration of World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day at Mulago Hospital, she emphasized that this tax creates an additional financial burden for families already facing significant challenges.

The event featured a health camp providing free services and was celebrated under the theme: “Improving Lives, Celebrating Progress in Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Treatment and Rehabilitation in Uganda.” Mutoni urged the government to allocate more resources to treatment and rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities and to officially recognize World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day on the national calendar. Such recognition, she argued, would foster awareness, reduce stigma, and promote rights and opportunities for those affected.

Mutoni also appealed to the public, NGOs, and government bodies to collaborate in establishing a solid foundation for accessing multi-disciplinary lifelong healthcare for individuals with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. She highlighted the importance of financial support for interventions aimed at improving lives and the development of a national database to enhance care outcomes.

Statistics show that Spina Bifida affects approximately 11.7% of 10 births in Uganda and is frequently accompanied by Hydrocephalus, impacting over 8,000 individuals annually. Mutoni called for a fresh government survey to establish current statistics and create a well-coordinated national database, addressing the fragmented care and inadequate support that currently exist.

Dr. Peter Senyonga, a neurosurgeon at Mulago Hospital, reported that the hospital handles 10 to 12 cases of Spina Bifida weekly and at least four cases of Hydrocephalus daily. He urged families not to abandon children with these conditions, noting that both are treatable and preventable with proper prenatal care, including adequate folic acid intake.

Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, Executive Director of Mulago Hospital, stressed the need for increased funding and modern equipment for orthopedic workshops to better serve individuals with disabilities. She highlighted improvements in community support and reduced abandonment of children with disabilities, attributing this to enhanced awareness and the availability of assistive devices.

Byanyima pledged to continue improving services for those affected by Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, reinforcing the call for collective action to ensure a brighter future for individuals living with these conditions.