By Gad Masereka
Jinja: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday advised youth in Uganda to spend their money wisely if they want to fight poverty in their communities and to create jobs.
Museveni made these remarks while addressing youths in Jinja district under the umbrella body the National Youths Council. Museveni urged the youths to stop unnecessary spending on things that will not contribute to their development.
He also emphasized the need to be economically disciplined and pledged government support for youth who will form SACCOS to engage in productive activities. The President wondered why youth spend money in bars yet they claim to be poor.
He noted that “You go to bars and they are full, you go to where they are roasting pigs and the places are full. This is social indiscipline and is part of the problem we are facing.”
He added that “Youth should know that when speaking to me, they are speaking to someone who was once a former youth. I was a youth but extraordinary youth, who was better than my elders at the time. I preached a change to modern methods of farming when people in Ankole still believed that commercial farming was only for the elite.”
He advised the youth leaders to start with themselves by changing their attitude which will help transform those under their leadership.
“Even if it means sensitising the people on changing to the money economy through Twitter. I can also tweet and I will be there tweeting with you,” the President said.
The President’s meeting with the youth was part of the International Youth Days celebrations that took place on Monday, whereby Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the day at a ceremony held at Gonza Primary School, Kagoma in Buwenge Sub-County, Jinja District.
