President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Uganda’s youth to combat corruption through appropriate channels rather than resorting to riots or street protests.
Speaking during International Youth Day celebrations in Soroti District on Monday, Museveni emphasized the importance of monitoring government funds and reporting any misuse to relevant authorities like Resident District Commissioners (RDCs).
The event, themed “Skills Development for Enhancement of Youth Opportunities,” aimed to highlight youth issues and celebrate their potential in today’s global society. Museveni reassured Ugandans that corruption can be eradicated with collective effort and concrete evidence. He urged the youth to insist on free education in government schools, criticizing leaders who reintroduce fees in Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools, leading to high dropout rates.
Museveni also encouraged schoolchildren to participate in wealth creation activities during holidays, drawing from his own experience as a young wealth creator. He advised parents to involve children in productive tasks without overburdening them and stressed the importance of physical fitness, discipline, and spiritual development.
Furthermore, the President urged the youth to embrace the National Resistance Movement (NRM) principles of Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic Transformation, and Democracy. He highlighted opportunities in sectors like commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT, cautioning against environmental degradation, particularly the misuse of swamps.
Museveni praised the people of Teso for their progress in commercial agriculture, noting their shift from grass-thatched houses to citrus fruit farming. He assured them of market stability through new management at the factory.
The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi, echoed the need for skill development among the youth, citing the high unemployment rate and mismatch between education and labor market needs. She revealed that 78.8% of Uganda’s population is under 35 years old, with 50.2% being children under 17.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Susan Ngongi Namondo, and the Ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Signe Winding Albjerg, emphasized the need for continued efforts to engage Uganda’s young population in productive adulthood. The Chairperson of the National Youth Council-Uganda, Mr. Jacob Eyeru, thanked President Museveni for initiatives like skilling hubs that address youth unemployment.
The event was attended by key figures, including Vice President Jessica Alupo and various ministers.