Vice President Alupo Urges Youth to Shun Idleness, Embrace Wealth Creation

Vice President Jessica Alupo has issued a strong call to action for Ugandan youth, urging them to move away from idleness and reliance on handouts. In a message coinciding with International Youth Day, Alupo emphasized the importance of embracing hard work, acquiring practical skills, and venturing into entrepreneurship as pathways to benefit from government initiatives aimed at wealth creation.

Alupo highlighted that Uganda has established the necessary infrastructure, expanded its market reach, and introduced financing programs like Emyooga, the Parish Development Model (PDM), and the Youth Fund. She stressed that these funds are intended as seed capital for income-generating activities, not for consumption or mere decoration.

The Vice President noted that the government has worked to overcome previous economic hindrances such as poor infrastructure and limited markets. She pointed to the significant expansion of Uganda’s domestic market and its access to wider regional markets as key opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

She encouraged young people to capitalize on these advantages by engaging in sectors like commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and information and communication technology. Alupo cautioned that while government investments in public services and infrastructure are crucial for development, they do not automatically translate into household wealth, which stems from productive economic activity.

Furthermore, Alupo warned against detrimental behaviors such as drug abuse, excessive alcohol consumption, and promiscuity, stating that these undermine health, productivity, and economic contribution. She urged the youth to cultivate discipline, acquire skills, form enterprise groups, and leverage government capitalisation programs to become active wealth creators rather than passive recipients.

Drawing a parallel with Japan’s development driven by discipline and hard work despite limited resources, Alupo stressed that Uganda’s abundant land, favorable climate, young population, and peace provide a strong foundation for economic transformation. She concluded by reiterating that no Ugandan should remain idle given these advantages.

Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/363055/alupo-tells-youth-to-reject-idleness-create-wealth