The World Youth Day celebrations that were held at Kampiringisa in Mpigi district ended with a call from President Museveni to the youth to acquire skills.
The President who attended the well organised celebratory event that was organised by the ministry of gender, labour and social development saw the ministry’s permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana taking the President around to view various projects that were being championed by the youth.
The fundamentals that the young people of Uganda need to develop, including peace, health and education, are already in place. What is missing in the equation, though, is the all-important capital and skills, according to President Yoweri Museveni.
With Uganda’s 40 million-plus population largely young, the President underlined in bold the need to direct more support to youth groups.
“We need capital and skills for the youths. All the other things are there.”
He said legislators and ministers need to work together to deemphasise expenditures on increasing salaries and travelling abroad, and instead channel the funds to creation of capital for youths.
Museveni’s emphatic message during the International Youth Day national celebrations at Kampiringisa Rehabilitation Centre in Mpigi district on Sunday built onto what previous speakers had pointed out.
Youths are requesting Government to continue supporting young people with equipment for production, said Lillian Aber, the chairperson of the National Youth Council.
She highlighted inadequate funding for youth structures as one of several obstacles they face, saying youth councillors want direct audience with President Museveni.
In her delivery, Aber said her team cannot perform their duties because of “budgetary cuts”, adding that they have previously faced “challenges” with the finance ministry over funds.
