Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde has challenged Uganda’s youth to stop viewing leadership, employment and national transformation as opportunities that automatically come with age or academic qualifications.
Tumukunde, who serves as Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, was speaking as Chief Guest at the National Youth Symposium 2026 held at Parliament in Kampala.
He urged young Ugandans to take an active role in shaping the country’s future, arguing that leadership requires preparation, engagement and a clear sense of purpose.
“You must be the young person. You must be engaged. You must be occupied,” Tumukunde told participants.
The minister challenged young people to look beyond their status as a demographic group and instead see themselves as potential drivers of Uganda’s social, economic and political transformation.
He also questioned the assumption that acquiring formal education automatically guarantees employment.
“Being educated, you are being equipped. Being employed is a choice,” he said.
Tumukunde encouraged young Ugandans to focus on acquiring practical skills, entrepreneurship and other forms of productive engagement as they navigate challenges in Uganda’s labour market.
According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimates cited during the symposium, more than five million Ugandans aged between 18 and 30 were not in employment, education or training, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the country’s youthful population.
The minister also challenged young people aspiring to join politics to first understand why they want to become leaders and what they hope to accomplish.
He encouraged them to read widely, acquire knowledge and actively participate in existing democratic structures instead of waiting for leadership opportunities to come with age.
Tumukunde made the remarks during the two-day National Youth Symposium 2026, which brought together young people and other stakeholders to discuss their role in Uganda’s post-election environment.
The fourth edition of the symposium was held under the theme, “Building Bridges, Shaping the Future: Youth Leadership for National Healing, Accountability and Inclusive Democracy.”
Discussions at the event focused on youth leadership, accountability, national healing and the role of young Ugandans in shaping the country’s political, economic and social future.
🇺🇬 𝐓𝐔𝐌𝐔𝐊𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇: “𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄”
“Being educated, you are being equipped. Being employed is a choice,” Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde told the National Youth Symposium.
He urged young Ugandans to prioritise skills,… https://t.co/5Dh1kGx80D pic.twitter.com/sdILTwq7Ot
— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) September 24, 2026
