By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Opposition politician also UPC president Hon. Jimmy Akena has cautioned Ugandans against extravagant spending ahead of Christmas and new year festivities.
Akena was responding to a question asked to him by Parrots Media journalist Leonard Kamugisha Akida on the party message to Ugandans preparing for Christmas day celebrations amid harsh economy. This was during the party end of year press conference held at UPC headquarters, Uganda House Kampala on Wednesday 21st December, 2022.
In his response, Akena advised christians majorly parents and guardians with school going children to avoid luxury spending and prepare for the new academic year.
“As a responsible parent, you cannot wait for a crisis, school fees are coming you need to start preparing. If you can put some money aside before the festivities you can better do so. You may need to scale down the expenditure for festivities so that you are able to meet other obligations,” says Akena.
There are fears that HIV infections and AIDS related diseases could rise in festivities because people end up engaging in sexual intercourses due to excitements, alcohol influence during festive seasons. But, Akena cautions that christians should guard themselves against HIV as nobody will take care of their lives and those of their families.
During the press briefing, the party president gave a reflection of the UPC realizations for the year 2022 such as development of party’s strategic plans like reviewing and updating of party charters, formulation of party policies, developing of the UPC 2021-2026 strategic plan which includes updating of the youth league charter and women league charter, Human Resource and Admninistration Manual, financial and accounting policy, gender policy and policy against sexual harassment among others. These according to the UPC have been implemented by various party structures.
It should be recalled that UPC has been carrying out nationwide consultations spearheaded by the Vice President Mutenderwa Fahad Kinyiri inwhich he met with leaders from different regions in a bid to improve the quality of party leadership and mass mobilisation of support for the party.
Over five regions of Busoga, Bugisu, Bukedi, Sebei, greater Masaka and greater Kampala have so far been visited results of which are fruitful.