_______________________

The President of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Gen. Mugisha Muntu, has challenged the youths in the Toro region to change their mindset to participate meaningfully in shaping the Country’s future.

Gen. Muntu made the call on Friday during a Toro regional youth conference that was held at the Fort Breeze Hotel in Fort Portal.

According to Gen Muntu, the youths in Uganda continue to look at themselves as a marginalized group despite their numerical strength and different levels of education.

“If you are 75% of the total population of the country, then numerically you are the majority and therefore need to harness that advantage to make sure that you are at the center of things and decision-making. For you to do that, you must first work on your mindset not to look at yourself as a marginalized minority when you are actually numerically the majority,” Gen. Muntu told the youth while delivering his keynote address.

Gen Muntu challenged the youth to evolve into a generation of new thinking that would counter the current culture.

“We need a generation that will be able to critically think and develop solutions to the current challenges instead of only lamenting about them. The youth must be able to come together to strategize, plan, and act,” he said.

Gen Muntu also cautioned youths against making themselves vulnerable to free things.

Gen Muntu speaking to the youths in Fort Portal

“There is nobody or government that will give you the money that you need. You therefore must work hard and earn what you want, other than waiting for free handouts,” he said.

Doreen Nyanjura, the Kampala Capital City Authority deputy Lord Mayor, who was the guest speaker at the conference, asked the youths to develop a sense of self-confidence amongst them.

“It’s not about the qualifications that you have or the institutions that you went to, but the focus and confidence in you to be able to change things,” she said.

Rose Kasemire, one of the youths who attended the conference, said that even though the youths have ideas, they lack the capacity to actualize them.

“We live in a country where resources are limited, and this makes us, the youth, disadvantaged,” she said.

Robert Mutunzi, one of the conference organizers, noted that youths need continuous engagement about their potential.

“The challenge is that youths have diverted their energies to non-developmental issues as opposed to nation-building. We therefore must continue to awaken them to play their role in shaping this country,” Muntunzi said.