By Sabir Musa

Arua City

Arua City youth leaders are calling for inclusion in decision making and transparency as the city council hands over one stop Youth Centre to a developer, South Sudanese Refugees Association (SSURA), for renovation after the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The one stop Youth Centre is a facility that was constructed in 2014 with funding from UN Habitant, as Centre for youth and children to get information and services on reproductive health, sports and culture.

Arua City Youth Council Chairperson, Gift Magezi, hopes to get views of youth leaders before the facility becomes operational again after its renovation. “We will sit together in youth council to read the MoU and see if it has captured issues of the youths. One thing I also want to put clear is that SSURA has promised us a lot of things” Mazezi said.

Previously, concerns emerged over illegal collection of rent fees from tenants using the facility as office spaces.  The youth leaders revealed that these collections were done by individuals but not city council nor youth council.

Ayivu Division Youth Council Chairperson, Bayo Francis, reasons that, management of the facility should be given to the city youth council or its leaders incorporated in the management w=and be given powers to made decision. “Because for us as youth leaders we though that when the facility is handed over to young people, they would be able to appoint some leaders to manage the facility and that can raise some resources to address challenges especially for things that are missing” Bayo explained.

Arua City Community Development Officer, Judith Drate, confirmed that the Centre will be rehabilitated and also equipment for skilling youth and women to be installed in the Centre.

A joint meeting between the association, city and youth councils will be scheduled to address concerns raised by the youth leaders soon.

COVER PHOTO: The current stucture of One Stop Youth Centre located at Niva Cell in Arua Central Division By Sabir Musa