By Jovita Mirembe
The newly appointed state minister for youth and children affairs has asked youth to embark on agriculture to curb the escalating problem of poverty in the country.
Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi said that since agriculture is one of the contributors to Uganda’s economy contributing approximately 24.01 percent of the Gross Domestic Product(GDP), it is the easiest way through which youth can transform their lives by starting projects to curb poverty.
“The youth constitute 75% of Uganda’s population and if they don’t have jobs, the country will not develop because they are the future leaders. Many youths are migrating from their home areas to urban centres seeking employment, but because jobs are scarce in urban areas, I am appealing to them to go back and develop their family land through agriculture because they can grow crops for both food and for sale,” Barugahara said.
He said this while receiving his office from its former minister, Hon Sarah Mateke at the gender ministry board room recently.
Barugahara said that President Yoweri Museveni emphasises the importance of household income production as a means to uplift communities through farming as a catalyst for development.
The function was attended by commissioners from the gender ministry and other officials from gender-related ministries.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi appealed to the youth to embark on agriculture. File photo
