Drug abuse, GBV and HIV/Aids in the youth hindering dev’t in Uganda-Minister Bahati

By Moses Agaba

Kabale

David Bahati, Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Industry) has said that has said that Alcohol, drugs and other harmful substances linked with food insecurity, gender-based violence and HIV/Aids among the youth are the major obstacles to development in Uganda.

Sentaro adressing people.

“I appeal to youth to love themselves, country, and God then they will live a purpose full life”. Said Bahati. .

He says that the NRM Government has come out with various programs aimed at helping the youth to come to of poverty asking the youth to embrace them.

Bahati says that Uganda has the world’s youngest population with over 78% of its population below the age of 30, a reason why the NRM government under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been able to support youth through different programs like ,Emyooga, Youth Livelihood programme, Youth Capital Venture Fund, Operation Wealth Creation, the recently introduced Parish Development Model among others.

“My appeal to you the youths, however, is that with these funds, you should engage in income-generating activities that will help you earn money I congratulate all the youths who have attained different skills through this 7 days training in different income generating skills. The NRM government is inspired by role being played by all those who organized this training.

“Said Bahati.

This was in his message read for him by the Kabale Municipality mayor Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha at the weeklong youth training in income generating skills by Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC) and Fundraising Function for A rehabilitation Center for Drug Addicted Youths in Kabale Main Stadium on Sunday.

Bahati says that for over the last four years, government has given out Ugx 160 billion to various youth groups across the country under the Youth Livelihood Programme as well the recently introduced Emyooga fund, different organized groups in every parish in Uganda benefited with each group getting Ugx 30 million.

He says that government, through State House, is setting up Youth Industrial Hubs in every sub region as they are to train the youth in various skills like carpentry, welding, mechanics, shoe making, tailoring, knitting, and weaving, among others.

He also says that The NRM government has also injected over Ugx 1 trillion in the Parish Development Model where each parish will receive Ugx 100 million saying that All these are the opportunities availed by the government to help mostly the youth and women appeal to Ugandans mostly the youth to take advantage of such programs.