By Frank Kamuntu
On July 26, 2024, the Uganda Parliament Conference Hall was filled with the vibrant energy and earnest voices of the nation’s youth as World Vision Uganda, in partnership with the Joining Forces Coalition, hosted the National Children’s Parliament. This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide a platform for addressing critical issues such as hunger and malnutrition that profoundly affect children across Uganda.
Paul Mwirichia, Director Response and Acting National Director of World Vision Uganda, delivered an impassioned speech emphasizing the importance of providing children with forums to engage in discussions about their well-being and livelihoods. “There is no better voice than the voice of children articulated by themselves. The National Children’s Parliament is therefore an extended opportunity for children to harness and engage with key decision-makers in torching light on issues that affect them beyond the informal spaces of engagement. In line with our mandate to ensure life in all its fullness for the most vulnerable children, World Vision continues to facilitate children with programs and initiatives that champion progress and better living, and today’s Children’s Parliament is one of them,” he stated.
The initiative is not only about giving children a voice but also about highlighting critical issues such as the provision of consistent school meals, combating malnutrition, and addressing child hunger—issues that have persistently plagued the younger population. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, Uganda’s fertile agricultural land has the capacity to feed 200 million people. Despite this, only 35% of Uganda’s 80% arable land is currently under cultivation.
In line with its goals, World Vision has recently launched the “ENOUGH” campaign, a holistic effort aimed at ending child hunger in Uganda and across the African continent. “The National Children’s Parliament is therefore an extended platform where all stakeholders can join hands, listen to the views of the children, and together table the best way forward in impacting children’s lives positively for today and the generations to come. Through the ENOUGH drive, we aim to impact over 5 million people across our areas of operation,” Mwirichia added.
The event also saw insights from Justus Rugambwa, Co-ordinator of the Joining Forces Coalition, who underscored the necessity of involving children in discussions and decisions that affect their lives. “At Joining Forces Coalition, we aim at securing the rights of children by supporting children’s safe and meaningful participation at local, national, regional, and global levels. As depicted today, enforcing the right of children to be heard is a reality that we appreciate and believe will promote collective child participation, involvement in issues that affect them, and influence key decisions that will promote improved child well-being in the long run,” Rugambwa concluded.
The National Children’s Parliament attracted key government officials, legislators, representatives from various NGOs, civil society organizations, educators, parents, and the general public. This diverse assembly of stakeholders signifies a unified commitment to addressing the challenges faced by children and finding sustainable solutions.
The event served as a reminder of Uganda’s potential to eradicate child hunger and malnutrition. With Uganda’s fertile lands, there lies an opportunity to not only feed the nation but also support the well-being of millions of children who suffer from hunger and malnutrition. The National Children’s Parliament highlighted the urgent need to cultivate more land and produce sufficient food to ensure no child goes hungry.
Moreover, the forum underscored the importance of education and proper nutrition in children’s development. Consistent school meals, for example, are not merely about providing food but ensuring that children can learn and grow without the hindrance of hunger. The voices of children, as amplified by the National Children’s Parliament, call for practical measures and policies to address these issues urgently.
As World Vision Uganda and the Joining Forces Coalition continue their efforts, the success of the National Children’s Parliament stands as a testament to what can be achieved when children are given the platform to speak and when their voices are heard by those in positions of power. The collaborative approach seen today offers hope for a future where children are not only heard but are integral in shaping the policies and actions that affect their lives.
In conclusion, the National Children’s Parliament has laid the foundation for a more inclusive and responsive approach to child welfare in Uganda. By addressing hunger, malnutrition, and other critical issues, and by giving children a voice in these matters, World Vision Uganda and the Joining Forces Coalition are paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future for all children. The event marks a significant step forward in the collective effort to ensure every child in Uganda can live a life of fullness and dignity.
