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OMORO

National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretary general Richard Todwong has asked the Catholic Church and the youth in Acholi to remain patriotic and support government programmes to come out of poverty.

Todwong says when youth support government programmes, they will be able to transform their lives to come out of poverty and create their own employment of which in turn, they will be able to support the Church to grow.

He on March 24, 2024, made the call as a chief guest During Gulu Catholic Archdiocese International Youth Day celebrations at Saint Josephs’ the worker Minakulu Bobi parish in Omoro district.

Sec Gen. Todwong Richard cutting cake with other diginatries during youth day celebration of Gulu Archdiocese in Omoro district.

“When young people are not empowered, they will become a burden to the Church and the Government. So, there is a need for youth to welcome government programmes like the Youth Livelihood Program, Emyooga and the Parish Development Model where they can tap this good opportunity to change their lives out of poverty,” he said.

Todwong thanked Gulu Archdiocese for working together with the Government and said the NRM government will remain supportive to the Church to help the Christians come out of poverty.

Emulate Jesus' life

Gulu Archdiocese vicar general Monsignor Mathew Odong, who was the main celebrant, represented archbishop emeritus John Baptist Odamat. He asked the youth to emulate the life of Jesus Christ and reject all wrong like He did when He was a youth.

“For you the youth, Jesus is the way, truth and life and you are the future of this country. Say no to wrong things because this world is using you the younger generation to do what is evil and this is ruining the lives of many young people” he said.

“I have seen youth selling land to buy motorcycles. This must stop because our grandparents did not sell land but used it to cultivate crops to fight food insecurity so that you are able to get what to eat and also to support Church activities,” he added.

Similarly, the diocesan youth chaplain of Gulu Archdiocese, the Rev. Fr. David Okello Opiro, urged the Government to create employment to the youth so that they are able to support themselves and come out of poverty.

“I ask the leaders of this country to give educational support to go for vocational skills so that they are able to complete their course to remain self-reliant and employ other youth for this country to develop,” he said.

Minakulu Bobi parish priest Fr Anthony Nyeko urged the youth to change their mindset on agriculture and start cultivating land to plant vegetables to generate household incomes because there is money in farming.

Working towards poverty eradication

Primary education state minister Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu said the NRM government is working toward eradicating poverty in Uganda and creating wealth to the people and spreading the gospel of wealth creation for the Christians in all the parishes.

“The Church doesn’t have a budget in the Government framework, when the Church need money, believers have to contribute, we can see the importance of having money in our households. On that matter, I want to advocate and pray that all the churches preach the gospel of wealth creation so that when we need money for the Church, Christians are able to contribute because the Government has put in place good programmes to fight poverty” she said.

Omoro District Woman Member of Parliament Catherine Lamwaka urged the youth to support the Church and the Government in bringing development by supporting the government programmes that come to benefit the community.

Lamwaka requested the Government to support the Church activities by distributing walking tractors in all the parishes for the youth to have access to mechanization to support their livelihood to bring change.

Similarly, the Tochi County member of Parliament Peter Okot said: “I ask the youth to stop asking for money from leaders and waiting to be told but be innovative if you want to be better in life”.