Uganda’s head of state, Yoweri Museveni, is urging his people to ignore the World Cup in South Africa, advising them to instead concentrate on income-generating activities.

President Museveni says he was invited to attend the tournament’s opening ceremony but declined, instead suggesting parents should tell their children not to “waste time “ watching the matches, the Daily Monitor reported on Wednesday.

“Somebody recently asked me who had won the World Cup. I was amused and I asked him who had qualified or whether the competition was finished,” the Uganda leader was quoted as saying.

Ordinary Ugandans, by contrast, have been following as many games as possible, either from televisions in home or bars or via the numerous radio stations that are broadcasting the events live.

But Museveni, whose national team failed to qualify for the World Cup, is unmoved.

“You must know how to use your time valuably. Teach them (children) about the National Agricultural Advisory Services programmes, and farming. This will help change this country, not the World Cup,” he said.