Archbishop Ssemwogerere condemns corruption, encourages youth to focus on dreams

The Archbishop of Kampala, His Grace Paul Ssemwogerere, has strongly condemned corruption, political violence, intolerance, and politically motivated murders, all of which have negatively impacted the youth of Uganda.

He expressed deep concern over how these issues, compounded by natural disasters such as floods and landslides, have disrupted the lives of many young people, causing them to lose loved ones, their homes, and educational opportunities.

Speaking during the official opening of the five-day National Youth Conference for Catholic Youths at the Hoima Catholic Diocese headquarters in Bujumbura on Wednesday, Archbishop Ssemwogerere called on the youth to remain hopeful despite life’s challenges.
“The youth have lost families and educational opportunities due to natural disasters like floods and landslides. These challenges can lead to exhaustion and a sense of hopelessness,” he said.

This year, Uganda has faced devastating landslides in Bududa District in Eastern Uganda, as well as floods in the northern parts of the country, claiming many lives and displacing thousands.

The Archbishop also quoted Pope Francis’ message to the youth, encouraging them not to lose hope in the face of an uncertain future. He urged young people to focus on their dreams and avoid falling into despair, boredom, or destructive behaviors.

“The Pope encourages you, young people, to recognize the uncertainty of the future while staying focused on your dreams. This will help you avoid becoming prisoners of boredom, depression, or destructive behaviors,” Archbishop Ssemwogerere said.

He further urged the youth to use their holiday time wisely and not waste it on unproductive activities.

The conference, held under the theme “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not grow weary,” has attracted over 10,000 youths from Catholic dioceses across Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda.

In his remarks, State Minister for Youth Affairs, Mr Balaam Barugahara, also urged Ugandan youth to avoid drug addiction and engage in productive activities. He expressed concern over reports of young people resorting to harmful practices such as inhaling fuel and abusing drugs.

“I urge young people not to sip fuel. You are not engines, motorcycles, cars, or tractors. If you do this, you will end up behaving like machines,” the minister warned.

He emphasised the importance of establishing counseling teams to visit communities and provide guidance to those engaged in harmful behaviors.

“We need to recruit counseling teams to go village by village, sensitizing and counseling young people who are engaging in these acts,” he said.

Mr Barugahara also encouraged the youth to take advantage of the many skilling centers across the country to acquire practical skills for economic independence.