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Minister Amongi Announces Youth Football Tournament for Lira City, Links Sports to Creative Economy Drive.
By Okidi Patrick
LIRA, UGANDA – November 14, 2025 – The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi Akena, has announced that she will soon organize a major football tournament for the youth in Lira City, using the initiative to champion investment in local talent, technology adoption, and the creative sector.
Minister Amongi made the announcement on Thursday, November 13, 2025, while closing a one-day youth empowerment training session held at Zegans Hotel in Lira City. The training, organized by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, benefited over 150 youth from the Lango sub-region.
While the specific dates for the competition are yet to be finalized, the Minister emphasized that the tournament would serve as more than just a sports competition. She promised that a selected group would be allowed to entertain spectators as a curtain-raiser, integrating artistic performance with the sporting event.
Speaking to the gathered participants, Minister Amongi stressed the need to support talent at the grassroots level and encouraged the youth to organize themselves into groups to strengthen their endeavors.
“We have tremendous talents, but supporting them at the grassroots level isn’t easy,” Minister Amongi noted. “Creative people aren’t only artists; they include managers, bouncers, and many others who form a vital part of the creative value chain.”
The Minister’s address heavily focused on economic empowerment through digital literacy, urging young entrepreneurs to embrace modern technology as the world has migrated to the internet.
She specifically encouraged fashion designers to leverage digital tools to facilitate online sales, potentially exporting their products abroad. Under the Ministry’s initiatives, Amongi pledged to support youth groups in branding and registering their trade names with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
Addressing the country’s high population growth, the Minister acknowledged the depth of the challenge in poverty eradication.
“With over 45 million Ugandans, there is no way we can eradicate poverty unless we aggressively support our young population to create their own opportunities,” she stated, disclosing that 70% of Uganda’s population consists of youth and children.
Amongi further asserted that the sheer numbers necessitate that the youth take a proactive role in national development.
“It is the youth who must advise the government on what to do,” she emphasized. “Let us work and prioritize the youth because 70 percent are the youth and children.”
Earlier during the session, Mr. Lawrence Olobo, an official from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, detailed various ongoing ministry projects. He advised the youth in Lango to actively participate in these initiatives to unlock support and opportunities, including those highlighted during the regional consultative meeting regarding the Community Restitution Fund (CURF).
The forthcoming football tournament in Lira City is expected to become a key platform for showcasing both athletic and creative talents, aligning with the Ministry’s broader strategy for youth socio-economic transformation.
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