The President emphasised the need to ensure that economic growth translates into improved household incomes, citing government programmes such as Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“Can you have a strong army and a strong and safe country without a strong economy? Can you have a strong defence force and a strong and safe country without cohesive politics? Finally, can you have a strong defence force and a strong and safe country without, in some cases, addressing the issue of geo-strategic location such as being landlocked?” President Museveni asked.
Akena criticized the government for prioritizing other matters over child welfare and called for a holistic approach to development that includes safety, skills, and greater exposure for school-going children.
In 2024, several alarming incidents involving the kidnapping of school-going children have been reported in Masaka region, highlighting serious concerns about child safety.
Children who attend school are particularly susceptible to accidents when traveling on the roads; therefore, there is a need to make sure they do so securely by taking good transportation and walking in groups.
The parents who drive usually drop their children and let them out of cars to find their way to school; they drive off without seeing if a child has entered school.