Leadership change must be predictable, process-driven, says Amama Mbabazi
The former Prime Minister of Uganda, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi. Photo/ Roland D. Nasasira
What you need to know:
- According to the 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) report, over 70 per cent of Uganda’s population is under 30, with the national youth policy extending this to 15 to 30. Youth aged 18 to 30 account for 22.7 per cent and those below 18 account for 50.5 per cent. This demographic reality is not merely a statistic but a mandate in Uganda’s politics.
- Ms Proscovia Salaam Musumba, who served as MP in the sixth and seventh parliament, said Uganda’s politics is characterised by people who call themselves democrats, but they are largely crooks
The former Prime Minister of Uganda, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, has urged political parties to identify, nurture and equip future leaders, especially the youth to prepare them for future leadership positions.
According to him, it requires structured leadership pipelines from grassroots mobilisation, youth wings and mentorship skills to officer-in-training programs so that talent is recognised and activated at every stage.
“In the process of building leadership, we (Ugandans) should consider term-limited positions within youth forums and transparent selection criteria to ensure merit-based, generationally respectful transitions,” Mr Mbabazi said.
The former Secretary General for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) added that: “As a country, we should institutionalise a smooth leadership transition. Leadership change must be predictable and process-driven, not personality-dependent. By embodying term limits, succession protocols and inclusive nomination processes, parties demonstrate accountability and continuity of vision.”
Mr Mbabazi, who is also a former presidential candidate (2016), made the remarks as he delivered his keynote address at the third two-day National youth symposium at Makerere University in Kampala on June 19. 2025.
Organised under the theme, ‘A reflection on 20 Years of multiparty politics; the role of young people in building a democratic, united, and prosperous Uganda,’ the third national youth symposium marked a significant national moment for reflection on the 20-year journey since the return of multiparty democracy in Uganda, and for envisioning the role of youth in shaping a unified and peaceful country as it approaches the 2026 general elections.
It should be noted that Uganda’s post-independence political trajectory has been characterised by a complex relationship with multiparty democracy. Though independence was gained under a multiparty system in 1962, it was dismantled in 1969. What followed were years of constitutional suspension, military rule, and transitional governance.
In 2005, multiparty politics was reinstated through a national referendum, rekindling hope for democratic renewal. Since then, public support for multiparty politics has steadily grown from 42 per cent in 2002 to 77 per cent in 2024, according to Afrobarometer.
“When you look at Uganda and Africa’s history, it’s full of failure and a history of poor leadership and yet, Uganda has been independent for 63 years. I’ve heard people who shout at the top of their voices about term limits yet they are leaders without term limits themselves,” Mr Mbabazi said.
Mr Mbabazi also pointed out persistent challenges frustrating Uganda’s democratic journey, such as partisan polarisation, insufficient youth engagement, misinformation, limited civic education and heavy commercialisation of politics. According to him, this bars many from full participation, especially the youth who don’t have the resources.
According to the 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) report, over 70 per cent of Uganda’s population is under 30, with the national youth policy extending this to 15 to 30. Youth aged 18 to 30 account for 22.7 per cent and those below 18 account for 50.5 per cent. This demographic reality is not merely a statistic but a mandate in Uganda’s politics.
While representing the European Union group in Uganda, Maria Håkansson, the Swedish Ambassador to Uganda, said globally, democracy is on a declining trend. Håkansson noted that at a time when freedoms are being eroded, civic space is diminishing and polarisation is intensifying, it is time to have a conversation about how to build democracies and make them work in a meaningful and practical way for the benefit of all citizens in all countries.
“Democracy is often associated with free and fair elections, but it’s more than just voting. It’s about active participation, informed decision-making and holding those in power accountable. A strong democracy relies on engaged citizens who participate in discussions and hold elective positions responsible. A thriving democracy is one where citizens and leaders work together to build a stronger and better society for all,” Håkansson said.
During a panel discussion on a historical reflection on the 20-year journey of multiparty politics in Uganda, Ms Proscovia Salaam Musumba, who served as MP in the sixth and seventh parliament, said Uganda’s politics is characterised by people who call themselves democrats, but they are largely crooks.
“We must go back to the foundation and repackage multipartyism into what this country needs. We have bushmen (those who fought in the bush) wanting democracy, but it cannot happen. The software of multipartyism was not born in the bush. When you work with crooks, the output is something else,” Ms Musumba said.
Mr Primus Atwukwatse Bahiihi, the Country Director of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) said the national youth symposium is not just a gathering or reflection of 20 years of multiparty democracy in Uganda, but a call for action for the future.
“It is a celebration of the role young people must play in shaping the democratic, united and prosperous Uganda. However, young people still face obstacles to effectively participating in politics. These include tokenistic inclusion and lack of financial and structural support. Many young people are excluded from decision-making processes and political parties often fail to provide platforms for meaningful engagement,” Bahiigi said.
Organisers said the two-day symposium that ended on June 20 2025, provided a safe space for young people to engage directly with party leaders and elders, reflect critically on the country’s democratic journey, and co-create pathways for inclusive political participation ahead of the 2026 elections. It also generated actionable commitments from both youth and political leaders to ensure a peaceful and participatory electoral process in 2026. It sought to foster consensus on youth inclusion in internal party processes and inspire reforms that strengthen multiparty democracy in Uganda.
