80-year-old Justine Kanyomushana is advising the young generation to stay away from junk foods, and alcohol.
She advises that eating millet, greens, unpolished potatoes and porridge are secrets to staying long.
In Mpokya village, Kibaale district , Kanyomushana lives a peaceful life after losing her husband during the NRA bush war.
While she credits the NRM government for peace, Kanyomushana attributes her longevity to good eating habits.
She says while many will run for meat, beef, fish, pork and so on, this has never been her dish rather , eating traditional foods like millet, greens, unpolished potatoes, Irish potatoes, sorghum porridge, and shunning of intoxicants like alcohol.
“Today, when someone is served the above kind of foods they call it village food.All they want are chicken and chips, beef yet most of these are contaminated with chemicals. For some chicken, I hear is given drugs to grow so fast and then people take such chicken. This weakens immunity and the body is unable to fight illnesses and this is partly the reason for an increase in cancer even among the young people. For the young generation, it is high time you took away pride and get back to real food or else you may not be able to see your grandchildren”, She advised
“When you people are yearning to drink soda, and other fermented juice , I on the other side go to the garden to pick maize or millet and grind it then take that porridge."
She adds that she also does regular medical check, exercising and engaging in hands -on skills like making baskets and farming which have kept her body strong.
Rev. Innocent Kwalisa, Kanyomushana’s first born says, it’s worth marking the life of their mother who produced seven children and by the grace of God, she has raised all of them.
“We have celebrated with our mum for her longevity because she only produced 7 children and loves us so much. We attribute her longevity to God’s love, life style, eating habits and good health, which people should borrow a leaf from.”
Rev. Arunah Baguma, the head of Uganda Pentecostal churches in greater Kibaale speaking as guest preacher at the home of the celebrant, asked people to shun reckless lives which shortens their life span asking the youth to love God and respect parents in order to live longer on earth.
“As a pastor I want to appeal to Ugandans to learn to live a healthy life. This elderly woman has managed to reach 80 years while still strong due to shunning things which lower life expectancy like promiscuous acts, alcohol drinking and other evil ways of living. I appeal to the youths to desist from reckless lives in order to live longer.”
The celebrations were graced by over 100 grand children of the elderly and school children who entertained guests .