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EAC Youth Parliament Speaker Belinda Amanya Calls for Greater Youth Inclusion as Her Remarkable Term Ends
Ms. Belinda Amanya, the 6th Speaker of the East African Community (EAC) Youth Parliament, has highlighted the milestones achieved during her leadership and reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the East African integration agenda.
Ms. Amanya presided over the inauguration ceremony of the new EAC Youth Parliament leadership in Tazania, extending her congratulations to Rt. Hon. Alak Andrew from South Sudan, the incoming Speaker, and his deputy Rt. Hon. Akamutuha Coviiren from Rwanda.
“I have no doubt you will serve extremely well,” she noted, expressing confidence in their ability to steer the youth body to greater heights.
Ms Belinda (C) with the new leaders of the Youth Parliament
While reflecting on her term, Ms. Amanya described the role as both a significant learning opportunity and a chance for personal growth. She lauded the mentorship and guidance she received from key leaders, including the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Ugandan Parliament Speaker Anitah Among, and Uganda’s 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EAC Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga.
The East Africa Youth Parliament (EAYP), an affiliate of the East Africa Community (EAC), is a regional organization promoting youth empowerment through advocacy, economic development, and leadership. Established in 2009, it focuses on governance, entrepreneurship, human rights, climate change, and fostering youth participation in social, economic, and political progress.
Under her stewardship, the EAC Youth Parliament, in collaboration with the EAC Youth League, hosted youth seminars across member states. These initiatives sought to raise awareness about the integration process and empower young people to actively participate in shaping the region’s future.
“The youth of East Africa represent a powerful force for successful and transformative integration,” Ms. Amanya emphasized, calling for robust policies that ensure youth inclusion in decision-making, capacity-building, and opportunity creation. She urged regional leaders to prioritize initiatives fostering youth engagement and representation, which she believes are vital for making East Africa a “beacon of progress and unity.”
Ms. Amanya expressed gratitude to various organizations that supported her leadership, including the Faraja Africa Foundation, the European Union Mission in Uganda, and the EU Youth Sounding Board. Their collaboration, she said, enabled her to advocate effectively for the youth of the region.
As she steps down, Ms. Amanya pledged her continued dedication to the East African dream, stating, “I will actively contribute to the unification of our region.”
