news 20 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Namayanja Advises Youth to Embrace Early Leadership Opportunities
NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja Nsereko is encouraging young people to actively participate in youth leadership structures and community initiatives to gain practical experience and develop essential skills for future responsibilities. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/namayanja-urges-youth-to-take-up-leadership-roles-5602218
NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja Nsereko has urged Ugandan youth to actively engage in leadership roles within community and civic platforms, rather than waiting for formal government positions. Speaking at the Second Sitting of the 8th East African Youth Parliament in Arusha, Tanzania, Namayanja emphasized that early involvement in such activities provides invaluable practical experience in mobilization, dialogue, problem-solving, and community engagement.
She highlighted that these civic spaces offer young leaders the chance to hone their ideas and interact with institutions that shape their lives. Namayanja drew from her own political career, stating that her early participation in student and youth leadership, including the National Youth Council, was instrumental in preparing her for subsequent roles, such as Member of Parliament and Minister. She pointed to former East African Legislative Assembly Speaker Daniel Kidega as another example of a successful leader who benefited from early exposure to youth leadership structures.
The theme of the Arusha gathering was “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” and it brought together young leaders from across the East African Community partner states. Namayanja stressed that these experiences help young people learn to listen to communities, mobilize others, negotiate differences, and find solutions to challenges, fostering crucial skills for future leadership.
Her foundation, the Rose Namayanja Foundation, partners with organizations like Faraja to support initiatives like the East African Youth Parliament. At the same event, Uganda’s State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Dr. Mercy Faith Lakisa, echoed these sentiments, encouraging young people to take ownership of shaping the East African Community’s future and to prepare for opportunities arising from events like the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.