Allow children join scouts Movement- Gen. Katumba

Parents across the country have been urged to allow their children join the Scouting Movement in order to compliment on the school and family life.

Addressing a Scouts breakfast meeting at Hotel Africana, on Monday, Gen. Katumba Wamala said scouting develops self-knowledge, the need to explore, discover and want to know more.

"Scouts discover the world beyond the classroom, tapping the skills of others to learn and become well rounded people," Katumba who is also State Minister for Works noted.

Katumba said this being a holiday period many parents were not at home to monitor their children. "I encourage parents to let their children join scouting so that they can come out as different citizens," he said.

Katumba said most of the youths today were exposed to things beyond their age and that scouting helps create and build a whole new person with integrity and an individual who has the nation at heart.

Katumba who is the Chief Commissioner of the Scouts Movement in Uganda said that scouts learn how to make good choices and take responsibility of their actions so that they are prepared for their adult life as independent persons.

"Scouting is all about building confidence and self-esteem, learning important life skills and leadership skill. Some of us are what we are because of scouting. It made the basic ground for my military training, Katumba added.

The breakfast meeting was aimed at fundraising for the camping activities scheduled for August 25-September 1, 2017 as well as building partnership with the corporate world for the future sponsorship of the association.

Lucy Nakyobe, the State House Comptroller who is also Chairperson Board of the Scouts Movement urged the corporate and members of the public to financially and morally support the Movement.

The Chief of Defence Forces Lt. Gen David Muhoozi through his representative at the breakfast meeting Brig. Phenehas Katirima donated sh 1 million to the cause. Also in attendance were representatives from Uganda Prisons and members of the corporate world.

Gen. Katumba also announced that the Movement had secured funding to fence of their land in Kaazi National Training and Camping grounds and that the Army's engineering department had offered manpower.

"Our land had been encroached upon by land grabbers and we found trouble evicting them. This move will help us protect it from the grabbers," he noted.

The Canadian Scouts who are currently camping at Kaazi had built a spring for the community to access clean and safe water. They are also building a 16 bed hostel to accommodate visitors.

He noted that this year every district in Uganda will be represented at the camping ground by a troop and that President Yoweri Museveni who is the Patron of the Movement would close the five day event of September 1.

Katumba noted that this year, the camping is mainly focusing on the preservation and restoration of the environment with the theme mission green.

"The environment is key and this year we have told every scout in Uganda to plant two trees. These will help in the restoration of our forest cover," he said.

He also noted that during the camping, the participants will be taken through military drill as a basic to improve on their discipline.

He also urged members of the corporate world and the public to visit the facility for team building and tourism indicating that the place had a good view for bird watching among others.