NTUNGAMO – President Yoweri Museveni has advised the people of the Ntungamo District against alcohol consumption and promiscuity.
The President made the remarks at the Sacred Heart Ntungamo Catholic Church in Ntungamo Municipality where he and the First Lady, Hon. Janet Museveni joined many Christians to celebrate Mass to thank God for entering the New Year 2020.
He told Ugandans to stop drinking alcohol if they want to live healthy and productive lives. I am told men in rural areas drink alcohol a lot. What do people want from alcohol? How do you benefit from taking it?” Museveni wondered.
You find someone with swollen cheeks, is weak and easily blown by the wind. Abandon bars, you waste time and money,” he said.
“We need to battle this serious problem and measures have to be taken. The youth must be informed of the dangers that alcohol can cause. The youth should not shorten their lives by taking too much alcohol and engaging in prostitution,” Mr. Museveni warned.
He further hailed the people of Ntungamo District in South Western Uganda for being united despite having different religious affiliations and also for now waking up to fight against household poverty through practicing commercial farming.
“I congratulate the people of Ntungamo for being together despite various differences and for starting to come up in the fight against poverty,” he said.
Mr. Museveni also commended the people of the area for building a magnificent Church and particularly thanked the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. John Baptist Tumusiime for showing followers the way to eradicate poverty from their homes.
“In the Bible, it is written that God made man in His image and told him to establish dominion over nature. So, poverty is caused by a lazy person and diseases lack hygiene and sanitation,” he said.
He informed the congregation that the government is to fund several Savings and Cooperative Credit Organizations (SACCOs) in each district in the country such as mechanics, saloon owners, and artisans, among others. He also assured them of the government’s determination to fight and eradicate corruption in the country.
President Museveni later donated UGX.100 million to the Specialized Raphael Children’s Clinic that has been established by the Catholic Church that he also opened. He gave to the Christian’s SACCO UGX.30 million while the Yellow Women’s Group received UGX.20 million.
The Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, commended the people of her area for the love they always have for the President. She congratulated them upon concluding the year 2019 and wished them a prosperous 2020.
The main celebrant of the Mass Rev. Fr. John Baptist Tumusiime, in a homily, urged the congregation to uphold the message by Pope Francis to make the New Year 2020 a period of prayer for peace.
He commended President Museveni for his knowledgeable on Bible issues and the First Lady for always being prayerful. Fr. Tumusiime wished the people of Ntungamo in particular and Uganda in general a happy and prosperous New Year 2020.