President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned university student leaders against engaging in violence and identity-based politics, urging them instead to embrace discipline, patriotism and national service as key pillars of youth leadership.
Museveni made the remarks after meeting leaders of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Nakawa, before later joining the First Lady, Maama Janet Museveni, at State Lodge Nakasero for an engagement with University Guild Presidents.
Addressing the student leaders, Museveni said youthfulness should not be wasted on endless partying and destructive political behaviour but rather channelled into productive activities that contribute to national development.
“Youth is a powerful resource for the country. It should be used to serve the nation, not for violence or identity politics,” the President said.
Museveni emphasised the importance of wealth creation through strategic sectors including agriculture, industry, services and information and communication technology (ICT), noting that these remain the backbone of Uganda’s economic transformation agenda.
Museveni also stressed that production without access to markets is meaningless, pointing out that Uganda currently has surplus production in key commodities such as sugar, maize and milk.
“We now have surpluses. The issue is not production, but selling what we produce,” he said.
To address this challenge, Museveni underscored the importance of regional integration, particularly through the East African Community (EAC), as a means of expanding markets, supporting mass production, creating jobs and increasing incomes.
He added that regional cooperation should eventually evolve into Pan-Africanism to unlock even larger markets across the continent and ensure shared prosperity among African countries.
The meeting forms part of ongoing engagements between the President and youth leaders aimed at promoting peaceful politics, economic participation and long-term national development.
