Ms Brenda Atim Kinyera, a former freelance journalist in Gulu has been appointed the new Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party national youth leader.
Kinyera who is a former news reporter with Radio Pacis, Speak FM and also correspondent for the Daily Monitor was appointed early this week by Mr Jimmy Akena, the new UPC party president.
Kinyera was subsequently approved by the delegates who attended the swearing in ceremony for Akena on Wednesday.
In June, Kinyera announced that she was quitting journalism work in order to embark on politics and has since expressed her interest to run for Nwoya District Woman Member of Parliament under the UPC ticket.
During a phone interview on Friday, Kinyera said, “My main agenda will be to revive the youth wing of the party since it is the party’s back borne. If the youth league of the UPC party is vibrant; rebuilding the party from the grassroots will be a very simple job.”
She noted that the youth are the foundation of the party and recruiting more young members is vital for the growth as well as for its future leaders.
The former scribe also revealed that she will reach out to other opposition parties in order to build alliance as they draw strategies to empower youth for leadership of the country.
On appointment, a youth leader will serve a 5- year term.
Under the UPC party constitution, a youth leader can serve for as many terms as possible so long as she/he is within the age bracket of 18-30 years.
However, under a circumstance that one has become incapable to perform his/her duty, the party president through a delegate will have the power to drop and appoint a new office bearer.
One Wednesday, Akena who also doubles as the Lira Municipality Member of Parliament (MP) was sworn in as the UPC party president in an assembly described by critics and the outgoing party leaders as, “an insult on the UPC constitution and sheer comedy.”
One of the presidential aspirants Mr Joseph Bossa, also the outgoing vice president said, “This was sheer comedy because what has been done is completely outside the UPC Constitution.”
On July 10, the UPC delegates conference was slated to meet, to among other duties, approve Akena’s recent controversial election but sensing a botched meeting, given the fever high pitch hostility between himself and outgoing president Olara Otunnu, the Lira Municipality MP wrote to members of the party’s delegates conference, asking them to convene and discuss matters concerning the party.
He said he had received numerous petitions and was calling a meeting as President elect.
