Uganda marks World Population Day 

Uganda has today joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Population Day. The annual event is observed to focus on the importance of population and development issues.

This year's celebrations are being held in Adjumani district at Paridi Stadium under the theme, Renewing the Promise: Empowering Uganda's Youth to drive Socio-Economic Transformation.

The Vice-President, Edward Ssekandi, is representing President Yoweri Museveni as chief guest. Also in attendance is the First Deputy Prime Minute Gen. Moses Ali.

Speaking during the function, the director general of National Population Coincidence (NPC), Jotham Musinguzi, said Uganda's young population presents a window of opportunity for accelerating economic growth if it is well planned for.

"Currently about 76% of Uganda's 40 million people are below 30 years. This is a challenge and also an opportunity in terms of education, health, job creation and skilling," he said.

According to Musingizi, despite governments efforts to put in place strategies to empower the youth through Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education, investing in business and technical vocational training, as well as youth livelihood programmes, is critical.

"Empowering the youth through skills development plays a critical role in providing them with better job opportunities in industries and other entities and also enhances their business intelligence," Musinguzi said.