Remarks at the National Commemoration of International Youth Day

Salutations:

• Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni;

• The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development,  Honourable Betty Amongi; 

• The Honourable Ministers here present in your respective capacities;

• Development Partners; 

• UN Colleagues;

• Honourable Members of Parliament;

• Masindi District Local Government Leadership; 

• All Dignitaries in your various capacities;

• Our dear Youth 

• Ladies and Gentlemen, All Protocols observed. 

It is a great honour to join you today, in Masindi, as we mark International Youth Day. This year’s national theme, “Youth Advancing Socio-Economic Transformation through Technology and Partnerships,” could not be more relevant to Uganda. It complements the Global theme of “Local Youth Action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Beyond.”

With more than 73 percent of Ugandans under the age of thirty (30), this generation is coming of age at a time when the country is expanding internet access, investing in innovation hubs, and embracing global advances in artificial intelligence. They are not only the largest youth generation in Uganda’s history, they are also the first with the tools to leapfrog persistent development challenges and drive inclusive transformation through digital solutions.

We are already seeing this happen. Across Uganda, young people are building businesses, developing home-grown tech solutions, leading climate action, driving creative industries and advocating for equality and justice.

Your Excellency, allow me to commend the Government of Uganda for its strong investment in young people through flagship programmes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme, the Parish Development Model, the Presidential Skilling Initiative, and several others. These efforts demonstrate real commitment and lay the foundations for a more prosperous and inclusive future. 

Building on this national leadership, the United Nations is proud to walk this journey alongside Uganda on several initiatives including the United Nations Joint Programme on Adolescent and Youth for 2023-2025, launched by Your Excellency in 2023. The multi-million dollar programme focuses on advancing education, skills, and employability for young people. In 2024 alone, over 127,000 adolescents were equipped with 21st century skills to prepare them for the jobs of the future, while more than 20,000 vulnerable households — many of them youth-headed — received cash support to cushion them from shocks, and UN-supported innovation hubs and digital skilling centres are now nurturing thousands of young entrepreneurs across the country. 

The UN in Uganda is also teaming up with the Mastercard Foundation to give young people - especially disadvantaged youth and refugees - the chance to succeed. Through Young Africa Works in Uganda, over 50,000 youth have already transitioned into work and 60 percent of them are young women. Together, we are turning skills into jobs so that youth can power the economy and shape a better future for all.

These results prove one thing: when we invest in young people, transformation happens.

However, challenges remain. Many young Ugandans still lack access to quality, industry-relevant education, decent jobs, finance, and digital tools. Climate change continues to endanger livelihoods, and gender inequalities and harmful practices such as child marriages, Female Genital Mutilation and Gender-Based Violence still persist. These realities limit the full potential of girls and young women to lead, learn, and innovate. We must ensure that marginalized young people, including refugee youth, those who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET), and vulnerable girls such as child mothers, are not left behind. Breaking down gender barriers and encouraging young girls to pursue non-traditional fields is essential. Empowering girls with skills unlocks their potential to drive economic growth and social progress.

We need to recognize that 2030 is not far away and youth have a key role to play in helping Uganda accelerate achieving the SDGs. Youth cannot do it alone; as such youth-adult partnership is key, as well as creating an enabling environment.

Together, we must scale up digital, vocational, and green skills training; expand youth employment through private sector investment and enterprise financing; strengthen social protection for rural, refugee, and vulnerable youth; ensure that young people are part of decision-making as leaders, not just participants; and deepen partnerships across government, private sector, civil society, and international partners.

Let us also invest in the green and digital economies where youth can thrive sustainably. Climate-smart jobs, artificial intelligence, data science, and blockchain are no longer future possibilities, they are current realities. These fields must be accessible to all youth, especially those outside urban centres.

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen

Artificial Intelligence, when applied responsibly, offers powerful opportunities to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training. It enhances personalized learning, improves teacher effectiveness, and aligns skills development with real-time market needs. The United Nations has piloted these approaches in Uganda with encouraging results, and we are committed to continuing our support to ensure that Uganda's youth are empowered with the skills needed to succeed in an ever-evolving job market.

Our initiatives focus on improving education infrastructure, teacher training, and curriculum development, ultimately contributing to a more skilled and competitive workforce. We have equipped TVET institutions with production equipment and ICT infrastructure, enabling trainers to deliver high-quality programmes. 

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we look to the future, we recognize the importance of continued investment in science, technology and artificial intelligence in education. We call upon the government and all stakeholders to support following actions:

1.  To boost youth employment by adopting an integrated approach that combines training, job matching, financial support and the participation of young people in design and implementation of programmes.

2.  To support investment in the development of digital technologies and digital public infrastructure, with the aim of achieving universal connectivity, closing the digital divide, advancing e-commerce and deepening financial inclusion.

3.  To promote inclusive use of technologies such as artificial intelligence in skilling and innovation while promoting responsible use, privacy safeguards, and equitable access across rural and urban communities.

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the United Nations, we continue to champion youth leadership and youth-driven innovation. From programme design to implementation, we believe youth voices are essential in shaping inclusive and future-ready solutions.

Before I conclude, allow me to share a few words from UN Secretary-General António Guterres from his message for International Youth Day 2025. He noted that:

“Young people are bold innovators, resilient organizers, and essential partners in in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Let us work together to support youth-led solutions and build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world, from the ground up”

Your Excellency, distinguished guests, dear young people, Uganda’s future will be written by its youth. With the right investments, this demographic dividend can power Vision 2040 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

To the young people of Uganda: keep innovating, keep pushing. We see you. We believe in you. The United Nations stands with you, committed to supporting your dreams and efforts.

On this Youth Day, I salute every young Ugandan and commend you for the great work you do.  The United Nations stands with you as a partner, as an advocate, and as a friend. Together, let us build a future where every young Ugandan can thrive.

Thank You.