CDF wants scouts given priority in armed forces

Sep 05, 2016

Scouting should be fundamental to reversing the moral decay among youths in the country

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Katumba Wamala has appreciated the importance of scouting in the country saying they should be given priority in security agencies.

Wamala was the chief guest at the grand opening of this year's National Scouting Camp and Competitions on Sunday at Kaazi in Wakiso district.

"Scouts are good in taking commands of their leaders and have at least 30% of what is required in the armed forces. I was a scout in 1970s which gave me the chance to join the armed forces," Katumba said.

Katumba showed commitment of the state to offer protection of the scouts' land at Kaazi from encroachers and land grabbers in the country.

"Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) is committed to protect scouts' land by guarding it from encroachers and land grabbers. We will send UPDF security to safeguard the place" Katumba noted.

In the 1930s, Kabaka Daudi Chwa II offered about 130 acres of land to scouts at Kaazi but since then, they have faced challenges notably encroachers who have illegally claimed ownership of part of the land.

Katumba added that scouting should be fundamental to reversing the moral decay among youths in the country with the different social skills offered to them.

All the years' parents have raised concern of the increasing moral degradation like drug addiction, theft, attributing it to poor child upbringing and can be solved by scouting.

On the question of financial assistance from government, Gen. Katumba urged the ministry of education to look at scouting as a tool of promoting talent with financial assistance.

Several scouts raised the challenge of self-facilitation which makes it hard for scouting to boom in schools.

John Ddumba, the Koboko district executive commissioner of scouts (DECS) said, "We call upon government to sponsor scouting like another game. Uganda should borrow a leaf from Kenya that facilitates her scouts through education."

Gen. Katumba urged scouts to use the different skills and knowledge learnt from the camp for the betterment of the country.

With partnerships from Uganda Olympics committee and Institute of Advanced Leadership Uganda (IALU), scouts have been introduced to financial and vocational skills that will be fundamental in providing job opportunities in the country.

Dr. Maggie Kigozi urged parents to allow their children to join scouting adding that it introduces students to several aspects of life.

"We train scouts crafting and weaving, financial education, food security, protection of the environment, AIDS counselling and we raise awareness about health issues" Dr. Kigozi said.

Kigozi argued the government to transform Kaazi camping site to a tourist attraction adding that it has potential to bring foreign exchange to Uganda in form of revenue.

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