Uhuru Kenyatta tips youth on leadership at Kampala summit

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The former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, has advised the youth to take the mantle of leadership, saying they should not sit back and wait for it to just happen without their concerted efforts.

"You can't just sit back and wait for things to happen in your bedrooms, you must take the lead by going out and working for it," Kenyatta told the audience, drawing applause.

The former President made remarks as a keynote speaker at the second Annual Guild Leaders' Summit 2025 held at Makerere University in Kampala on April 24.

The former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta (left), with the Vice President Jessica Alupo during the guild leaders summit at Makerere University in Kampala on April 24, 2025. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

The summit was organised by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, themed: "Leaders with Integrity Building Foundation for Good Governance in East Africa."

It attracted guild presidents and student leaders from universities across East Africa, namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The summit's main objective was to seek and harness the youth's energy, innovation, and potential by exposing them to thought leadership, policy perspectives and collaborative solutions that address the East African region's unique challenges.

It also provided opportunity for mentorship, engagement and solidarity among the former and the current university leaders.

Kenyatta called upon the youth to avoid ethnic and religious divisions and focus on their shared future of unity (uniting Africans).

The former President asked African heads of state and governments to address the bottlenecks, such as trade barriers that impede the movement of goods and services.

The Vice President, Jessica Alupo, appealed to the youth to maintain the peace and security ushered in by the National Resistance Movement if they are to realise their dreams of leadership.

Damiano Masesa, executive director of the academy, informed guests that the guild leaders' summit 2025 was aimed at providing a platform for young leaders to learn from elders who have inspired the region.

Dignitaries at the events included he former Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, Mathew Rukikaire, the former Makerere University Council chairperson and other dignitaries.

The former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta (left) receives his portrait from the Vice President Jessica Alupo during the guild leaders summit at Makerere University in Kampala on April 24, 2025. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

During the function, Kenyatta received a gift of his portrait and a book authored by Rukikaire.