By Ivan Tsebeni
Uganda Christian University (UCU) students, under “Men of Purpose,” have been advised to make the most of their youth by making economic advancements and positioning themselves for employment opportunities.
Addressing the youth conference on Saturday, March 25, 2023, Samuel Bakutana, the leadership consultant, told the youths that their youthful stage would not last forever, urging them to make the most of it.
He said youths tend to take their age for granted by focusing on unimportant things, which he said later leads to regret.
“Your youthful stage is the most productive, and so you should work hard to gain from it. So, instead of focusing on pleasures, better centralize on being a value-added age,” Bakutana said.
He encouraged youths to save and invest, claiming that the only way for a young person to live a meaningful life is to make investments, which he claimed could keep them from becoming beggars.
Bakutana said the best way to make notable investments is to start with the little you have so as to keep on expanding. He argued that it is not a good idea to keep the little money you have.
“When you just keep the little you have acquired, no increments shall be realized as opposed to when you invest it; can you earn anything more from the seeds when you keep them in the store rather than planting them?” Bakutana asked the congregation.
He also encouraged young people to take advantage of government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), among others. Bakutana challenged youths to take action to lift themselves out of poverty, saying that God does not give you wealth (money), but rather the ability to make money.
“Acquire useful skills and take part in necessary initiatives, especially those of the government. No opportunity shall locate you if you do not look for it,” Bakutana said.
Dickson Tumuramye, the leader of the Men of Purpose organization, urged young people to value themselves and refrain from drug usage at the same event, saying that the mind needs to be sober for proper operation.
He observed that several youths have been lured into drug abuse acts by the ‘so-called’ celebrities, who he said are so much followed on social media.
“Youths forget that their lives matter and that they should preserve them.” Your body is a temple of Christ; do not contaminate it,” Tumuramye said.
Nicollet Namwase, a third-year student of law at UCU and one of the participants, lauded the Men of Purpose group leaders for prioritizing youth, saying they are the foundation of the country.
She revealed that as a youth, she is engaged in serving God and reading holy literature to equip herself with a resistance spirit in case of any temptations.
“I’m doing all I can to invest in knowledge because it is the basis of anything fruitful,” she said shortly after the event.
