By Morish Dramadri

Arua city.

The youths in West Nile region under their umbrella organization the Greater West Nile youth forum have been tasked to adopt a positive mindset in order to create an impact in the society as they constitute about 77% of the  country’s total population.

This appeal was made during the 2^nd public memorial lecture of the former fallen district Agricultural Officer of Arua Late Gertrude Badaru at St. Phillip’s church in Arua city on Tuesday 13^th June 2023.

Venerable David Ayikobua the archdeacon of the Arua urban archdeaconry also the vicar of St. Phillip’s church says youths can easily adapt to new knowledge to change the society. “Elderly people pretend they are wise because they have accumulated knowledge for very many years, wisdom is accumulated wealth for very many years. So in their own eyes they are already wise now with the new ideas it may not go well with perceiving it easily but young people can be able to learn and change for better. So change your mindset and begin to think in a different way.” Ven. David appealed.

Aluma Habib the regional secretary for Muslims in West Nile says youths should be blamed for the state of their society. “We have now recognized how important you our youths are to our society. If our society is poor, it is because of you. If our society is transformed, it is because of your efforts, so don’t blame us being the reason for your problems, in fact the society should look at you for the causes of the state of affairs of our society.” Habib said.

Meanwhile Hon Yeko Teddy Gloria, the speaker of Arua city council who represented the city mayor during this memorial lecture challenged the youths to prepare to feed the population coming to Arua regional city. “We know that the city is already attracting very many people, this city is not meant for either the mayor or other people, and it is a regional city. Therefore this region is going to be filled, they will need food, they will need everything are we prepared to feed them? Are we prepared to work for income?” Hon. Yeko questioned.

As a remedy, Dr. Toa Gordon Victor the Arua district production officer and also the focal person for the parish development model in the district urges the youths to embrace agriculture through the Parish development model fund. “Under the PDM, 30% of the money is for the youths. Youths in Arua have got 17.1 million shillings in post bank. How many are utilizing it? The money is meant for agriculture so youths make use of this money, this money can propel.” Dr. Gordon said.
Late Gertrude Badaru, a former board and founder member of the Greater West Nile Youth Forum succumbed to Covid 19 on 13^th June 2021.

COVER PHOTO: Leaders of Greater West Nile Youth Forum(GWNYF) with some youths and family members of Late. Gertrude Badaru By Morish Dramadri