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 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appealed to the youth to desist from embracing a wrong ideology of sectarianism, religion and tribes and working for foreign interests.

“If you take that line, you will fail because I have been watching all these years many of the people who came in power at independence were young people, but because they did not address the issue of ideology, that is why we had so many problems in Uganda,” he said.

The President made the remarks Friday during the International Youth Day celebrations held at Kigezi High School in Uganda's western district of Kabale.

The celebrations ran under the theme: 'Accelerating recovery from COVID-19 and full implementation of 2030 Agenda: The role of the youth'.

Held annually, the International Youth Day is meant to draw attention to cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.

Museveni said neighbouring Tanzania has been stable for all this time because the country's former leader, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, managed to address the issue of ideology.

“Mwalimu started with a good ideology of Uzalendo of National Patriotism that is why Tanzania has been peaceful all this time."

'Life of parasitism'

The President also urged the youth to "reject the temptations of youth because they will add nothing to you", urging them to instead concentrate on their studies so that they get knowledge and qualifications.

“So, the three words for the youth are discipline, knowledge/skills and ideology. If you look at those three, I can assure you, you will go far. After that, you should ensure to lead a productive life; don't lead a life of parasitism by depending on others. Be sure that you can do something,”

“As we have told you, the sectors here in Uganda are four. There's commercial agriculture and we have told you what to do. Manufacturing is the second sector and I'm glad when I was touring the kiosks there, I saw some of you processing honey, juice from sugar cane. There were others processing meat, sanitary pads and paper. 

"Then there's services, some of you are already active in this field. Then ICT, we have jobs in this sector known as Business Process Outsourcing but we also have electronic innovations. We are going to support all these with government funds.”

Museveni also tipped the youth to join the knowledge economy, saying that this new sector is going to propel Uganda's economy further.

“I was having a meeting with our scientists in NARO [National Agricultural Research Organisation] who have discovered a vaccine against the ticks. We are going to roll it out. 

"Our scientific cadres, I don't have to talk much about them because they know what to do and they are already doing it. They are making electric vehicles, working on electric batteries and a pathogenic economy. For those ones, the debt is on the side of the Government to give them enough money promptly.”

'Expose the corrupt'

On the other hand, President Museveni rallied the youth to take part in wealth creation.

“We should have a population of wealth creators. This is very crucial for you to understand because you could have a population of leisure seekers. The biggest economy is the USA followed by China and Japan. Japan is a small country with very hardworking people; that is how their country came from defeat in the Second World War to now be among the biggest economies in the world," he said.

“The economy is doing well but the main problem is corruption among the civil servants and politicians.

"You should fight it because the youth movement should see those people and expose them. That will be part of your work because you are in the society and see what is happening.”

Investment

President Museveni was also happy to note that they have succeeded in getting an investor who will add value to Uganda's iron ore, thus overcoming the problem of exporting the natural mineral unprocessed.

“We have got the best iron ore in the world. The second best is in Peru. 

"For a long time, we have been looking for an investor to build an integrated steel industry to process our iron ore, we have now succeeded. Those who are trying to export unprocessed iron ore should stop because they are making us lose money and jobs,” he said.

“Also, we are now going to develop a bamboo project in the hills of Rwampara and Isingiro because to make good paper we can use bamboo. We are now importing paper, you can imagine, but we shall make all those papers here and people can grow bamboo and we process it.”

Vice-President Jessica Alupo attending the International Youth Day celebrations in Kabale

Student loans, NYC budget

On the student loan scheme, Museveni said: “We support it, but the money was not renewed this time because of the temporary problems of coronavirus and the war in Ukraine but that scheme will be reinstated.”

The President also ordered that the National Youth Council's budget that was halted be reinstated.

“I was embarrassed to hear that somebody took the sh4bn budget away from the Youth Council. It should be brought back. Some of these people are shameless, how could you find somebody with very little and you take it away? It's not common sense!"

The President also commended the United Nations for their continued support towards some programmes in Uganda.

Everything was 'interrupted'

On her part, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, said that as Government, they have been at the forefront of the empowerment of women, youth, persons with disability and other vulnerable groups.

“Due to the impact of COVID-19, a good number of youths dropped out school and most especially the girls who got pregnant during that time were not able to go back to school, so education was interrupted, economic livelihood was interrupted, social economic empowerment programmes were interrupted," she said.

"We saw an increase in gender violence and others, which affected the youth largely.

“However, Your Excellency, through the intervention of the Government, the youth and the people in urban areas were able to be supported in many different ways.”

Amongi also announced that her ministry will collaborate with that of Education under BTVET (business, technical, vocational education and training] as well as the Presidential Industrial Hubs to skill the youth and ensure that they get employed. 

She said the ministry will also ensure that youth empowerment is placed at the centre of government's intervention.

President Museveni receiving a shield and spear from a youth representative during the celebrations

'Potential momentum'

On behalf of the UN system, UNFPA country representative Mary Otieno, commended the Government and the people of Uganda for their continued efforts to secure the future of the young people through various programmes.

“More than a half of Uganda's population are youth and there is a potential momentum for future economic growth once we invest intentionally in critical sectors such as health and education to enable the country to reap a demographic dividend,” she said.

“This makes young people crucial agents of Uganda's development goals and Vision 2040."

Jacob Eyeru, the National Youth Council chairperson, said the youth play a critical role in the development of any nation since they are the most productive and energetic labour force.

He requested the President to set up a national programme on a regional basis where he will be meeting youth leaders at regional level to impart them with ideological and wealth creation messages.

Eyeru also underlined the need to set up a national youth scheme as a prerequisite to public service.

“People that enter public service to serve Ugandans should have been trained in patriotic discipline and ideology. Sometimes the army guides the training at Kyankwanzi and it does a very good job in instilling good memories in these people on what it means to serve your country. 

"That should not be preserved to only these people in the public service, it should be a breeding ground for all the people, even those who are looking forward to being recruited in public service," said the youth leader.

At the same event, President Museveni witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Afro-Arab Youth Council and the government of Uganda, the launch of the UN joint programme for adolescents and youth as well as the roadmap for 30 years of existence celebrations of the National Youth Council.

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MORE PICTURES 📸

There were vibrant performances from different youth groups...

The formalities were conducted...

President Museveni inspected the guard of honour...

The men and women of the uniform performed the march past...