President Yoweri Museveni has commended the Catholic Church for its proactive role in shaping Uganda’s youth into wealth creators, emphasizing the importance of ideology, spirituality, and socio-economic transformation.
The President made the remarks while officially closing the National Catholic Youth Conference held at Our Lady of Lourdes Bujumbura Cathedral in Hoima City on Saturday, December 15, 2024.
Addressing over 15,000 youths from across Uganda’s Catholic dioceses, President Museveni expressed gratitude to the Church for organizing the five-day conference, noting that mentoring young people is crucial for Uganda’s progress.
“When you talk of the youths, don’t talk of only biology, you must also add ideology and spirituality. This is what the Catholic Church is doing, and I’m very happy with that,” he said.
He highlighted the failures of past Ugandan leaders who lacked the necessary ideological foundation, warning that youthful energy without guidance can lead to disastrous outcomes. “When Uganda got independence, all the leaders were young, but they failed very badly because being young without ideology and spirituality is not enough.”
Museveni praised the Church’s growing emphasis on addressing socio-economic issues alongside spiritual teachings. He noted that this approach aligns with the four missions of Jesus Christ: preaching the gospel, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and working with his hands.
“In the past, there was a mistake for Churches to only talk about spirituality. I’m very glad to see the shift to addressing socio-economic issues, which are critical for our people,” he added.
He further urged the youth to reject the politics of identity, which he described as a barrier to national and continental development. “Identity is personal, but it should not be externalized to conflict with others. Prosperity comes from focusing on shared interests, not division.”
Encouraging the youth to embrace the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) four core principles—Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic transformation, and Democracy—Museveni underscored their importance in building a unified and prosperous nation.
He called on the youth to join the money economy and embrace systematic planning, or ekibaro, to ensure sustainable growth. “When we came in, only 9 percent of the population was in the money economy. Today, 67 percent are part of it, but even then, many enter without proper planning. This needs to change,” he said.
As the conference concluded, President Museveni’s message reinforced the vital role of Uganda’s youth in driving socio-economic transformation. By combining spirituality, ideological clarity, and practical skills, he argued, the young generation can overcome challenges and secure a brighter future for themselves and their country.
The President’s remarks served as both a call to action and a testament to the growing partnership between the government and religious institutions in addressing Uganda’s developmental challenges.
