Mr Andrew Moses Awany, the acting Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Gulu has said the tendency among youth of counting on luck rather than engaging in gainful activities is a waste of time that will backfire in the future.
Awany noted that by rushing into gambling, the youth think it is quick fix to their current problems.
Awany however says he has never heard of someone who became rich after winning a lottery.
The RDC says, “Because of the high rate of unemployment, gambling has become the most preferred choice of activity. But it is instead leading to misuse of both valuable time and resources.”
Awany said instead of embracing technical skills, the youth have despised it while they continue to suffer from joblessness and living risky lifestyles.
He expressed dismay on the current level of addiction of youth who are engaged in gambling saying it is bad for the future of this country.
The RDC accordingly asked youth to engage in economic activities so as to solve the problem of unemployment burden facing Uganda.
But Kenneth Ojok, a youth who have visited sport betting centers in Gulu town for more than 30 times in the last two years says he has earned more than Shs2million from sport betting, something he says is more than what a teacher employed by the government can earn in two years.
He revealed that in one stake alone, he won Shs301, 900 plus a television set in a recent promotion by Kings Sports Bet, a spot betting center.
This view is shared by other youth who say they will continue to visit the various sports bet centers in Gulu town to try out their luck since it is what helped them from stealing and doing dirty jobs.
Mr Justine Langol, the area Vice LCIII Chairperson for Koro Sub County says the youth have taken into gambling as source of survival.
Langol noted the increase in gambling among the youths in the area has not only led to truancy and smoking but also stealing.
Ms Janet Omona, a resident of Lapainat in Koro says to support the habit, the youth have turned into house breaking and stealing domestic animals such as goats.
Omona says, “Some of the youth who are school dropouts are stealing their own family goats especially at night to pay debts that arise from gambling”
Locals have expressed concern that many of the youth are now addicted to gambling raising fear they could turn violent in order support their habit.
Psychologists say that gambling is an addiction that sufferers exhibit when they become so excessively preoccupied with the activity of gambling to the exclusion of everything and everyone else, including family members.
1 Comment
These RDCs and other leaders are the same people who have the power to stop gambling. Gambling is destructive to the young just like alcohol. Gambling is not permitted in many cultures including Acoli. Kalulu is much better which depends on trusted individuals within their villages. The Acoli youth lack the proper Acoli culture due to the concentration camps’ lifestyles which many of them were subjected to. Therefore all leaders should help restore what is helpful for the youth.
Lutela myero guket tek me gengo lok me Byekko lim awola (gambling). Ka dong dano gitye ka rwenyo dyegi, gweni, lela, dok ki tye ka dere ci pingo lutela pe gujuk gin eni me Byekko lim i i Acoli. Kalulu naka yam dano gitimo i kin jo ma gingene keken ci gitiko wire kwede me konyogi ki cakko biacara dok ribo kin dano. Acoli gipeke ki kit tim me Byekko lim awola, meno yub pa ladit lobo ku?