Move from the sidelines into the arena, ex-premier Mbabazi tells youth
“Move from the sidelines into the arena. Register to vote. Join not just as supporters, but as thinkers and reformers. Hold leaders accountable and exemplify integrity,” Mbabazi said.
Former Uganda Premier Amama Mbabazi delivered a stirring call to action at the Makerere University School of Public Health Auditorium on June 19, 2025. (Photos by John Musenze)
By John Musenze
Journalists @New Vision
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With just months to the general election, the involvement of young people in Politics is likely to play a decisive role in shaping the country’s democratic trajectory.
For the past two decades, Uganda has operated under a multiparty system, reinstated in 2005 through a national referendum. Since then, public support has surged, from 42% in 2002 to 77% in 2024, according to Afrobarometer, reflecting a growing commitment to pluralistic governance.
The two-day event has brought together over 300 young people, Members of Parliament.
It was against this backdrop that over 300 young Ugandans gathered at the Makerere University School of Public Health Auditorium on June 19, 2025, for the 3rd National Youth Symposium. Organised by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), the two-day event, running under the theme: The Role of Young People in Building a Democratic, United and Prosperous Uganda, offered a rare platform for reflection, inspiration and action.
Delivering the keynote address, former Uganda Premier Amama Mbabazi delivered a stirring call to action. Drawing from his rich political history and experience, Mbabazi urged the youth to rise from passive support to active engagement.
“Move from the sidelines into the arena. Register to vote. Join not just as supporters, but as thinkers and reformers. Hold leaders accountable and exemplify integrity,” he said.
H.E. Maria Håkansson, Swedish Ambassador to Uganda.
He stressed that democratic participation must go beyond voting, emphasising the need for thoughtful political involvement and ethical leadership.
He also challenged youth forums to introduce internal term limits, modelling the very democratic values they advocate for.
“Many shout about term limits but lead structures with none. Leadership transition should be predictable and institutional, not personality-driven,” he said.
Mbabazi reminded attendees that his political journey included efforts to unite parties through IPOD (Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue), a platform he helped to found to promote dialogue across political divides.
“We wanted an atmosphere without hostility, where we could meet and find common ground. Many times, we passed laws after consensus with the Opposition,” he noted.
Poor governance challenges
In a candid reflection on Africa’s leadership struggles, Mbabazi acknowledged that much of the continent, including Uganda, has suffered under poor governance. He laid the burden squarely on political parties to identify and mentor new leadership through deliberate and transparent processes.
Primus Bahiigi, Country Director of NIMD Uganda, offered a thoughtful assessment of the country's political landscape since the 2005 return to multiparty democracy. 
“Political parties must nurture and equip future leaders. That means mentorship, not manipulation. That means opening space, not closing ranks,” he said.
He also called for integrating civic education into party structures, warning that many politicians, including MPs, misunderstand their roles.
“Most MPs don’t realise that their job isn’t to build roads or hospitals but to advocate where decisions are made. You want to build a hospital? You don’t need politics for that,” he added.
Swedish Ambassador to Uganda Maria Håkansson earlier offered an international viewpoint, acknowledging Uganda’s unique democratic journey but reminded the audience that democracy is more than voting — it is about participation, responsibility, and service.
“Democracy, development, rule of law and respect for human rights are mutually reinforcing,” she said. “Uganda ranks high in commitment to democracy, but satisfaction with how it works remains low.”
She challenged young Ugandans to use their demographic power — 73% of the population is under 30 — to push for reforms and lead transformation.
The 3rd National Youth Symposium was organised under the theme The Role of Young People in Building a Democratic United and Prosperous Uganda.
“Your voice is not just valid—it is vital. We believe in your potential and look forward to how you will transform your communities and your country,” Håkansson stated.
The symposium brought together not only youth but also senior political figures, elders, policymakers, civil society actors and development partners. It served both as a reflection on two decades of multiparty governance and a space to co-create Uganda’s democratic future.
Primus Bahiigi, Country Director of NIMD Uganda, offered a thoughtful assessment of the country's political landscape since the 2005 return to multiparty democracy. While acknowledging notable progress, he lamented persistent challenges such as weak internal democracy within parties, ideological confusion, and tokenism toward young people.
“The youth of today are the leaders of today, not just tomorrow,” Bahiigi emphasised, taking issue with Nelson Mandela’s oft-quoted phrase. “We must acknowledge the challenges that persist need to be solved today.”
He called for inclusive political spaces where young people can lead meaningfully, noting that without civic education and internal party reforms, youth engagement would remain symbolic.
Bahiigi quoted the late Tanzanian statesman Julius Nyerere to highlight the importance of context in democratic development: “Democracy is not a bottle of Coca-Cola, which you can import. It must be homegrown.”
Bahiigi stressed the importance of creating democratic structures tailored to Uganda’s needs and rooted in its values.
“We need more spaces like this symposium, where young people can engage party leaders, government, elders, and civil society to co-create the vision of a prosperous and democratic Uganda,” he said.
The gender ministry's permanent secretary, Abbey Kibenge, who represented the minister of gender, Betty Amongi, also called up the young people for inclusive participation in the newly launched NDP4, which starts next month, July. He urged them to avoid partisan politics and implement politics of ideas.