Israel Kyarisiima, the National Chairperson of Gen Z, called on young Ugandans to take responsibility for shaping their future rather than merely demanding better opportunities.
Generation Z (Gen Z) youth on Saturday celebrated President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s 82nd birthday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, embracing messages on patriotism, wealth creation, skilling, value addition and socio-economic transformation.
The celebrations, held on September 19, brought together Gen Z youth, government leaders and other stakeholders to reflect on the President’s leadership and discuss the role of young people in Uganda’s economic transformation. President Museveni turned 82 on September 15.
In a message delivered by Vice-President Jessica Alupo, President Museveni said Uganda’s stability, good governance and socio-economic progress were increasingly evident across the country, adding that the country was steadily progressing towards a middle-income economy.
He urged Gen Z and all Ugandans to embrace enlightenment, ideology, nationalism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy as key pillars for the country’s continued development.
On nationalism, Museveni said patriotism requires Ugandans to love their country, remain united and recognise the contribution of every citizen regardless of age, tribe, gender, religion, region or social status.
He called for an end to discrimination and tribalism, in line with the African Union Agenda 2063 principle of leaving no one behind.
The President also emphasised the importance of Pan-Africanism, saying Africa’s large market presents Uganda with an opportunity to expand trade, increase production and create more economic opportunities.
“We need a larger market of 1.3 billion people — an African continental market for the excess products which we are producing across the country,” he said.
Museveni further called for continued industrialisation and value addition to create jobs for young people, enable Uganda to export finished products and increase earnings from international markets.
On socio-economic transformation, he said wealth creation was the responsibility of every Ugandan and urged the 33% of households he said were still outside the money economy to join it and participate in productive economic activities.
“No one should be a spectator in the wealth creation process,” he said.
He also called for an end to corruption and urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies to continue guiding Ugandans on available opportunities for wealth creation.
Museveni identified commercial agriculture, industry, services and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as key sectors through which Ugandans can create wealth and jobs.
On democracy, he urged Ugandans to responsibly guard the country’s democratic gains and exercise their rights and responsibilities within the law.
“Always remember that rights come with responsibilities and respect for humanity,” he said.
Vice-President Alupo thanked the organisers for celebrating the President’s birthday, saying the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on his leadership and its contribution to Uganda’s development.
She commended Museveni’s emphasis on ensuring that Ugandans participate in national development through wealth creation, education, skilling and other government programmes.
Alupo urged young people to embrace opportunities created through government programmes and work together to consolidate Uganda’s development gains.
She also emphasised the importance of the East African Community and the wider African market, saying expanded markets are critical to supporting Uganda’s production and creating opportunities for young people.
The Vice-President called for continued value addition to Uganda’s raw materials to create jobs and increase the country’s earnings from its products.
She further encouraged Ugandans, particularly young people, to embrace wealth-creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model and ensure that households still outside the money economy become active participants in economic activity.
The Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, congratulated Museveni upon reaching 82 and called on Gen Z youth to embrace his message on wealth creation and make use of available opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
State Minister for Finance in charge of Investment and Privatisation, Amina Mukalazi, also congratulated Museveni, describing him as a “walking history.”
She commended the President for what she described as peace and stability in the country and highlighted government initiatives in education, including Universal Primary Education (UPE).
State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Mercy Lakisa, thanked Museveni for what she described as peace and stability in Uganda, saying the celebrations gave the younger generation an opportunity to appreciate his contribution to the country.
Lakisa identified unemployment and limited ideological orientation among challenges facing young people and cited government programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and skilling centres as initiatives intended to create opportunities for youth.
She challenged young Ugandans to take responsibility for shaping the country’s future, urging them to work hard, remain united and protect Uganda’s development gains.
Ian Jeremiah Gumisiriza, the Special Presidential Assistant on the Informal Sector, said the informal sector had dedicated September to activities celebrating Museveni’s birthday.
He said Gen Z had marked the occasion through community-oriented activities, including a blood donation drive.
Gumisiriza said young entrepreneurs were also embracing the message of value addition, with Gen Z businesses exhibiting their products at the celebrations.
On behalf of Gen Z, he thanked Museveni and the NRM Government for programmes such as UPE, wealth-creation initiatives and skilling centres, which he said had opened opportunities for young Ugandans.
Israel Kyarisiima, the National Chairperson of Gen Z, called on young Ugandans to take responsibility for shaping their future rather than merely demanding better opportunities.
Kyarisiima urged the youth to embrace the seven pillars of the qualitative leap that Museveni has been promoting during the campaigns, saying this would enable young people to transform their lives and contribute to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
The Kololo celebrations were held under a broader youth-focused theme centred on inspiring generations and empowering African youth, with organisers highlighting youth empowerment, regional business opportunities and financial inclusion for informal workers.
The event brought together Gen Z youth, government leaders and other stakeholders, with discussions focusing on wealth creation, value addition, skilling, patriotism and productive participation in Uganda’s economy.
