First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni has urged young people to reject political manipulation and election-related violence as Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections, calling on them to place God, peace, and national interest above divisive politics.
Mrs Museveni made the appeal on Friday, December 19, 2025, while addressing the inaugural Bakhaana BaMasaaba (Elgon region) Prayer Rally held at Kololo Independence Grounds. She emphasized that Uganda’s future largely rests in the hands of young people, who now constitute the majority of the population, making them both a powerful national asset and a vulnerable target during election seasons.
She noted that Uganda has the second youngest population in the world, with more than 78 percent of citizens below the age of 35—a figure projected to double over the next 25 years. According to the First Lady, this demographic reality places a heavy responsibility on leaders, parents, and communities to intentionally nurture, mentor, and prepare young people for leadership and responsible citizenship.
“The younger generation now makes up the vast majority of our population. Consequently, we the older generation should be racing against the clock to nurture, mentor and equip them to take on leadership roles in every sphere of our society,” Mrs Museveni said.
However, she expressed concern that the critical role of young people in fulfilling God’s purpose for the nation is often underestimated, leaving them exposed to destructive influences. She warned that unrestricted access to information through digital platforms has exposed youth to both positive and harmful content, often without adequate moral guidance and values-based support systems.
The First Lady cautioned that these challenges intensify during political campaigns, when self-seeking actors exploit young people’s frustrations and energy to undermine electoral laws and incite violence.
“Unfortunately, this is the time when self-seeking politicians, with negative messages, manipulate our young population,” she said, adding that prayer rallies such as the Bakhaana BaMasaaba gathering provide a platform to speak to the nation beyond politics and human rhetoric.
With Uganda heading to the polls on January 15, 2026, Mrs Museveni appealed to citizens—particularly cultural and religious leaders, civil society organisations, and local government actors—to actively promote peace and unity. She urged Ugandans to reject politics that fuel hatred and violence, reminding them that Uganda is the only home they will ever have.
She warned that the destruction of infrastructure through riots and demonstrations ultimately harms ordinary citizens and communities, and cautioned youth against being used as tools for political agendas. She encouraged them to question the motives of those who incite violence and to reflect on who truly benefits from chaos.
“Your voice matters, and your vote counts. Your future is too important to be hijacked by those who sow division and violence,” she said, urging young people to participate meaningfully in the electoral process and to encourage their peers to do the same.
Drawing inspiration from the biblical book of Nehemiah, Mrs Museveni framed the prayer rally around the themes of healing, reconciliation, and rebuilding communities. She noted that while Uganda has enjoyed decades of relative peace and stability after years of political turmoil, the nation now faces serious moral and governance challenges.
She highlighted corruption—describing it as an “Acquired Integrity Deficiency Syndrome”—alongside nepotism, tribalism, and social divisions as threats to national cohesion.
“These are the broken areas of our nation’s walls that we must take collective responsibility for, repent, and begin the work of rebuilding,” she said, calling for greater accountability and transparency while working with government to confront corruption.
Beyond governance, the First Lady pointed to social challenges affecting young people, including mental health struggles, substance abuse, and moral decay, which she said are being intensified by pressures of the digital age.
She commended the Bakhaana BaMasaaba Association for mobilising prayer as a foundation for national renewal and unity. As she officially launched the association, Mrs Museveni stressed that prayer remains a powerful unifying force, noting that a nation that prays together stands a stronger chance of building a future founded on peace, righteousness, and shared purpose.
The prayer rally drew participants from across the Bugisu sub-region, including Mbale City and the districts of Mbale, Sironko, Manafwa, Bududa, Bulambuli, and Namisindwa. It brought together women leaders, youth representatives, male champions, religious leaders from various Christian denominations, cultural leaders from Inzu Ya Masaaba/Bugisu, local government officials, educationists, civil society actors, women’s organisations, and development partners.
The founding President of the Bakhaana BaMasaaba Association, Irene Muwanguzi Wasike, said prayer must be accompanied by deliberate community action to address deep-rooted social and development challenges.
“Communities cannot heal when children cannot read, when girls are robbed of their childhood, and when mothers carry burdens that break their spirit,” Wasike said, adding that prayer “is not a last resort, but the foundation on which transformation stands.”
She explained that the association was formed to mobilise women as agents of healing, reconciliation, and rebuilding, grounded in faith and cultural pride, with a focus on mentoring girls, challenging harmful norms, and restoring hope in struggling communities.
The Convenor of Bakhaana BaMasaaba, Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, emphasized the importance of faith-based community spaces in helping young people process emotional pain without resorting to violence or self-harm.
“It is a legitimate practice to teach our children how to express and manage their emotions. We do not have to tell our youth to hide their emotions,” she said, adding that sadness and anger should be taken to God in prayer.
Bamugemereire noted that the association, now comprising more than 400 women members and male champions, continues to intercede for families, clans, and communities, expressing hope that prayer, repentance, and collective action will lead to national healing and the rebuilding of broken foundations.
