Rugunda cautions youth against jobs abroad

The Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, has cautioned youth against the emerging frenzy of flocking Europe and other places such as the Middle East for employment opportunities, saying fostering the East African Community integration is the magic bullet.

Flagging off the East African youth caravan at the office of the prime minister today, Rugunda said instead of admiring Europe, US and other developed countries, youth in Africa must work hard to ensure that Africa emerges from the abyss.

"We need to take extra-ordinary steps to ensure that Africa regains its wealth and dignity.

We Africans are not working hard to ensure that we reverse some of the shameful activities taking place. I always get embarrassed when I see Africans run to Europe to get jobs," he said.

Rugunda added: "We must unite Africa and ensure that we don't remain subdued or exploited. Instead of people running to Europe, let's work hard and ensure that it is the people in Europe who are running Africa."

Every year, over 50, 000 youth are sent abroad by various labour export companies to work, especially in the Middle East.

However, Rugunda believes that through integration, opportunities that the youth yearn for in Europe and Middle East, will be created within the region.

Over 70 youth from various universities in the country will today start their annual East African caravan tour of Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and Tanzania, to share experiences with other youth on the East African Community integration.

Rugunda described the youth caravan as a "significant" concept that will acclimatise the youth within the region with the need for an economic and political East African Community integration for the benefit of citizens.

Lillian Aber, the chairperson of the National Youth Council, said the major focus of the youth caravan is to integrate young people within the East African region and also ensure that they understand the EAC mission.

Aber said the youth also decried the commercialisation of politics within the region, which they said, impedes their interests in politics.