National Youth Council Act

Section Interpretation Section In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— " chairperson " means the chairperson of the national youth executive committee elected under section 9 ; " conference " means the national youth delegates conference referred to in section 7 ; " council " means the national youth council established under section 2 ; " district ", " county ", " subcounty ", " division ", " town ", " parish ", " ward ", and " village " have the meanings ascribed to them under the Local Governments Act; " Minister " means the Minister responsible for youth affairs; " secretary " means the secretary of the council appointed under section 11 ; " youth " means a person between the age of eighteen and thirty years; " youth committee " means a youth committee established in respect of each youth council .

Section Establishment of the council Section There is established a council to be known as the National Youth Council. The council shall be a body corporate, shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name. The council may, for and in connection with its objects and functions under this Act, purchase, hold, manage and dispose of any property, whether movable or immovable, and may enter into any contract and other transaction as may be expedient and may do any other act or thing as in law may be done by a body corporate.

Section Objects of the council Section The objects of the council are— For the attainment of its objects under subsection (1), the council shall have the following functions— to organise the youth of Uganda in a unified body; to engage the youth in activities that are of benefit to them and the nation; and to protect the youth against any kind of manipulation. to inspire and promote among the youth a spirit of unity and national consciousness; to provide a unified and integrated system through which the youth may communicate and coordinate their ideas and activities; to establish channels through which economic and social services and amenities may reach the youth in all areas of Uganda; to encourage the youth to consolidate their role in national development in the economic, social, cultural and educational fields; to initiate and encourage the formation of youth organisations and to facilitate communication among them; to promote relations between youth organisations in Uganda and international youth organisations and other bodies with similar objects or interests; and to do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects of the council under...

Section Composition of the council Section The council shall consist of— one representative from each district elected by the members of the district youth council ; two student representatives elected by the Uganda National Students Association, one of whom shall be a female; ten female representatives elected by the conference from among the female members of the conference , at least two to represent a region.

Section Establishment of youth councils Section The following youth councils are established in each district — village youth councils; parish or ward youth councils; subcounty , division or town youth councils; county youth councils; and a district youth council .

Section Composition and hierarchy of youth councils Section A district youth council shall consist of— A village youth council shall consist of every person who has attained the age of eighteen years but is below the age of thirty years and is a resident of the village. A parish or ward youth council shall consist of all the members of the village youth committees in the parish or ward. A subcounty , division or town youth council shall consist of all the members of the parish youth committees in the subcounty, division or town. A county youth council shall consist of all the members of the subcounty, division or town youth committees in the county. the chairperson , vice chairperson , secretary , publicity secretary and finance secretary of each county youth committee in the district ; and one male representative and one female representative of each subcounty youth council in the district elected by the subcounty youth council .

Section National youth delegates conference Section The national youth delegates conference shall consist of— There shall be held once in every year a national youth delegates conference which shall be the main policymaking body of the council . the chairperson of every county youth council ; the chairperson of every district youth council ; the secretary for women youth at the district level; and eighteen students elected by the Uganda National Students Association. Subject to this section, the conference shall have the power to make or amend the constitution of the National Youth Council.

Section Establishment and composition of youth committees Section There is established in respect of each youth council a youth committee , which shall consist of the following— a chairperson ; a vice chairperson ; a general secretary ; a publicity secretary ; a secretary for women youth who shall be a female; a secretary for student affairs who shall be a student; a secretary for labour affairs; a secretary for sports and culture; and a secretary for finance. The members of a youth committee shall be elected by the members of a youth council from among their number. A person shall not be eligible to be elected a member of a youth committee unless he or she has attained the age of eighteen years, and a person shall not be eligible to be so elected or to continue to hold office in a youth committee if he or she has attained the age of thirty years. A person shall not be a member of more than one youth committee . Where a person is elected to a higher youth committee , his or her office in the lower youth committee shall fall vacant and another person shall be elected in his or her place.

Section National youth executive committee Section The national youth executive committee shall be elected by the members of the council from among their number and shall consist of— There shall be a national youth executive committee which shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the council . a chairperson ; a vice chairperson ; a general secretary ; a publicity secretary ; a secretary for women youth who shall be a female; a secretary for student affairs; a secretary for labour affairs; a secretary for sports and culture; a secretary for external relations; a secretary for finance; and a secretary for legal affairs.

Section Secretariat Section The council shall have a secretariat to assist it in carrying out its objects and functions under this Act. The secretariat shall be composed of a secretary and other staff of the council .

Section Appointment and tenure of office of the secretary Section The secretary shall be appointed by the Minister on the advice of the council . The secretary shall be appointed from among persons who are qualified or experienced in management or administrative matters. Subject to this Act, the secretary shall hold office on a full-time basis and on such terms and conditions as are specified in the instrument of appointment. The secretary may resign his or her office, by writing under his or her hand, addressed to the Minister through the council . The Minister may, on the advice of the council , remove the secretary from office for inability to perform the functions of his or her office as a result of infirmity of body or mind or for any other cause or for misbehaviour. In the case of removal from office of the secretary under this section on the ground of inability to perform the functions of his or her office as a result of misbehaviour or of any other cause other than infirmity of body or mind, the secretary shall, before removal, be given an opportunity to be heard on the allegations made against him or her. The secretary shall not be removed from office under this section on...

Section Functions of the secretary Section Subject to the general control of the council , the secretary shall— The secretary shall be the chief executive officer and also the accounting officer of the council . act as secretary at meetings of the council and record the minutes of the council at those meetings; be responsible for the implementation of the policy decisions of the council and for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the council and the control of the other staff of the council ; perform such other functions as may be assigned to him or her by the council . Where the office of the secretary is vacant or where the secretary is unable to perform the functions of his or her office by reason of illness, absence or other reason, the council may designate an officer of the council qualified in terms of section 11 to perform those functions until the vacancy in that office is filled or, as the case may be, until the secretary is able again to perform those functions.

Section Other staff of the council Section The council shall employ such other staff as may be necessary for the proper and efficient discharge of the functions of the secretariat under this Act. The council shall regulate the manner of appointment, terms and conditions of service and the discipline of its staff appointed under this section. Public officers may be seconded to the service of the council or may otherwise give assistance to the council .

Section Remuneration of the secretary and other staff Section The council may pay to the secretary and other staff such remuneration and allowances as it deems fit and may grant pension or retirement benefits or gratuity to them at such rates as the Minister may, after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, determine.

Section Election of representatives of the youth in Parliament Section The conference shall, at its first meeting, elect five youth representatives, at least two of whom shall be female, from the members of the council to represent the youth in Parliament. The qualifications, tenure of office and other matters relating to the membership of a member of Parliament elected under subsection (1) shall be governed by the provisions of the Constitution and any other written law in force relating to them. In electing the five youth representatives under subsection (1), the conference shall ensure that one representative is elected from each of the following regions: northern, western, eastern, central and Buganda.

Section National youth consultative forum Section There shall be a national youth consultative forum which shall consist of— the members of the national youth executive; and at least five representatives of nongovernmental organisations determined by the national youth executive committee, which are involved in youth affairs and which are registered under the Nongovernmental Organisations Act.

Section Functions of the national youth consultative forum Section It shall be the duty of the youth consultative forum to liaise between the council and the nongovernmental organisations. The national youth consultative forum shall regulate its own meetings and procedure.

Section Funds of the council Section The funds and resources of the council shall consist of— such sums from the Consolidated Fund as may, from time to time, be appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of the council ; any monies accruing to the council in the discharge of its functions under this Act; and grants, gifts or donations to the council . All income and monies of the council shall be deposited to the credit of the council in a bank approved by the Minister and shall not be withdrawn except with the approval of, and in a manner determined by, the council .

Section Borrowing powers Section The council may, with the prior approval of the Minister after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, borrow by way of overdraft or otherwise from a banker or any other person, such sums as may be necessary for meeting the obligations of the council and for carrying out the objects and functions of the council . The council may, with the prior approval of the Minister for the purposes of any borrowing under subsection (1), charge any asset or property of the council with the repayment of any money so borrowed.

Section Estimates Section The council shall, within three months before the end of each financial year, cause to be prepared and submitted to the Minister for submission to the Minister responsible for finance for his or her approval estimates of the income and expenditure of the council for the next ensuing year. No expenditure shall be made out of the funds of the council unless the expenditure has been approved by the Minister .

Section Financial year of the council Section The financial year of the council shall be in respect of any accounting period the period of twelve months ending on the 30th June.

Section Accounts Section Subject to any directions given by the Minister responsible for finance, the council shall cause to be prepared in respect of each financial year, a statement of account which shall include a report on the performance of the council during the financial year comprising— The council shall keep proper books of account of all its income and expenditure and proper records in relation to them. a balance sheet, a statement of income and expenditure and a statement of surplus and deficit; and any other information in respect of the financial affairs of the council as the Minister responsible for finance may require.

Section Audit Section The accounts of the council shall, in respect of each financial year, be audited by the Auditor General or by an auditor appointed by him or her. The council shall ensure that within four months after the expiry of each financial year, a statement of account described in section 22 is submitted to the Auditor General for auditing. The Auditor General and any auditor appointed by him or her shall have access to all books of account, vouchers and other financial records of the council and be entitled to have any information and explanation required by him or her in relation to them as he or she may think fit. The Auditor General shall, within two months after receipt of the statement of account under subsection (2), audit the accounts and deliver to the council a copy of the audited accounts of the council together with his or her report on them stating any matter which in his or her opinion should be brought to the attention of the Minister . The Auditor General shall also deliver to the Minister a copy of the audited accounts together with his or her report on them.

Section Investment of surplus funds of the council Section Any funds of the council not immediately required for any purpose under this Act shall be invested in such manner as the council may, with the approval of the Minister after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, determine.

Section Protection of members and staff from personal liability Section A member of the council or an employee of the council acting on its behalf shall not be personally liable for an act done by him or her in good faith for the purpose of carrying into effect this Act.

Section Annual reports Section The council shall, within three months after the end of each financial year, submit to the Minister a report on the activities of the council in respect of that financial year, and the report shall include its achievements during that financial year and its future plans.

Section Regulations Section The Minister may, after consultation with the council , by statutory instrument, make regulations for better carrying into effect this Act.

Section Application and amendment of the Schedule Section The Schedule to this Act shall apply in relation to the seal of the council , the tenure of office of the council , youth councils and youth committees and to any other matter set out in that Schedule. The Minister may, by statutory instrument, amend the Schedule to this Act.