4 May, 2014
Lazy, dishonest workforce derails growth, says Ugandan President
NTUNGAMO (UGANDA), May 3 (NNN-NEW VISION) — President Yoweri Museveni has warned that there can be no growth and economic development when you have a lazy and dishonest workforce, stressing that a workforce that steals from its employer scares off investors and derails development.
The President singled out the theft of road fuel on the Kampala-Masaka-Kabale-Katuna road by the locals, summoning the area police commander and the RDC to explain to the public what is being done to curb the thefts.
“Who is stealing road fuel? What has been done about it. We have been working on this road and we are remaining with only 27 miles to complete it.
“We are working on roads so that we have infrastructure that is good. We need infrastructure such as roads, electricity etc that is cheap and affordable to lower cost of doing business and attract investments,” he said, before directing the Police to be more vigilant in arresting the culprits.
Security sources said local residents in Ntungamo conniving with some people from Kampala are involved in a fuel stealing racket. 20 people have been arrested and charged so far.
Museveni who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister for Karamoja affairs, was presiding over the 50th Labour Day Celebrations held at Rubaale Town Council Stadium in Ntungamo district under the theme; “Working with the Youth: Addressing the Employment challenge”.
The President said there are only four sectors that are key in job creation including agriculture, Industry, ICT and services adding that government jobs are not enough to solve the issue of job creation.
“What we need is modern agro-production. Am becoming more hopeful on the issue of industry. If you visit the exhibition stalls, you can see that Ugandans are able to process and manufacture many things. Those people if assisted, can create many mini industries that can generate employment. I was at Kyambogo and Makerere University, scientists in Uganda can now manufacture anything, it is just a matter of support,” he said.
Museveni said the country is rich in minerals deposits including iron ore and that government intends to exploit these by building industries around them to create jobs and spur development.
On the issue of the minimum wage, President Museveni said that he was ready to sit with NOTU because the issue needs to be studied before implementation.
According to statistics from the Uganda National Household Survey 2012/13 youth aged between 18-30 years constitute 21.3% of the total population with only 60 percent of these engaged in fulltme employment, 15 at school, 7%in both part time employment and school and 18% jobless.
Ugandas total working population is 12.4 million excluding the 1.6million persons engaged in agriculture for household production.
Of the working population only 18.5% are in paid employment while 81.5% are self employed. Every year 300,000 people enter the job market with the economy only generating 18,000 formal jobs.
The President had earlier decorated various personalities with the Golden Jubilee medals for their entrepreneurship including Gordon Wavamuno, Aga Ssekalala, Julian Adyeeri, Mariam Luyombo and Mpanga Growers Tea Factory among others.
He also presented dummy cheques of Shs 12.5million each to four youth groups under the youth livelihood programme including Kagonji Youth Development Club dealing in goat rearing and multiplication, Shame Morden Maize Mills, Central Division Youth group and Rutunguru Youth Poultry breeding and Production group. — NNN-NEW VISION
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