Lucky
The King of Tooro, His Royal Majesty Dr. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV, has rallied youths to avoid peer group influence that can bring negative behaviours, which often result in dangerous outcomes such as contraction of HIV, teenage pregnancies, use of drugs, alcoholism, violence, among others.
King Oyo was over the weekend speaking during the Tooro Youth Conference, held at Mucwa Grounds in Fort Portal, organized by Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU).
Embracing Agriculture
King Oyo, called on the youths to embrace activities such as Agriculture model farms as learning centers for better improved agricultural practices, youths skilling centers to equip the youths with skills to enable them be self employed, amasaza tournament to promote and improve youths talents, ICT center to equip youths with technology skills to allow them compete with the modern world, HIV and other health campaigns through routine health camps aimed at providing free treatment and sensitization among others.
King Oyo further urged all the youths to harness these programs and incredible opportunities they present, saying if they work together, no target is too ambitious to reach and no obstacle is too hard to overcome.
The Conference
The Conference According to the Executive Director Reach a Hand Uganda, Hamfrey Nabimanya Bbaala, is a high-level youth engagement that brings together thousands of young people, policy influencers, cultural leaders, health practitioners, and civil society actors to engage in bold and transformative dialogue on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
He says this conference addresses issues of misconceptions towards reproductive health issues, such as teenage, early marriages and pregnancies that are related to culture, having a good environment where rights are respected, and instilling cultural values among the youths as they grow up.
Elasto Kasoro, the Minister of Local Government Culture and Clan Mobilization Tooro Kingdom noted that as the kingdom they are embarking on such conferences to senstize and create awareness among the youths on the dangers of teenage pregnancies, early marriages, importance of education among others and how youths can be leaders to be able to address several issues that affect them.
Rt Hon. Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire, the Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, commended Reach a Hand Uganda for partnering with the kingdom to address issues affecting the youths, saying such conferences will not only create opportunities for the youths but also build self-confidence, trust to be able to make good choices and decisions in the future.