Africa-Press – Uganda. Young Ugandans have been urged to abandon the “culture of waiting” and take personal initiative in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), rather than relying on external intervention to solve problems in their communities.
Speaking during a youth engagement session held on Tuesday, July 8, at Mt. Zion Hotel in Kampala, Richard Baguma, Secretary-General of the United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU), said too many young people were falling into a pattern of inaction while expecting others—especially government or foreign actors—to make the first move.
“Part of the message I shared with the young people today is that there is a sense of inaction… a behavior of waiting,” Baguma told participants.
“It’s like they are waiting for somebody to come from somewhere and do things for them.”
He urged the youth to recognize their capacity as adults and problem-solvers.
“As young people, we are not infants. We are not children. We are all above 18, adults in the legal and practical sense. If you’re a university student or graduate, why do you think others are responsible for finding you something to do?” he asked.
“Why is there no motivation to tackle the many problems we face and try to find solutions? Take action.”
Baguma encouraged youth to start their own initiatives, just as previous generations had done while still at university, saying today’s young people are better positioned than ever to understand their context and push for change.
The event brought together university SDG chapter leaders and civil society actors for an orientation on Uganda’s SDG commitments, as well as its newly launched Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which outlines strategic government priorities through 2030.
Ashraf Kakaire, from Open Space Centre and a core member of Uganda’s SDG Reference Group, highlighted the alignment between NDP IV and the global goals.
“We’ve been unpacking the SDGs for leaders to understand them and relate them to key interventions in the NDP IV,” said Kakaire.
“There are promises on unemployment, education, innovation, science, and technology. We need young people not just advocating but also doing knowledge development, mobilizing peers, and monitoring how government funds are being used.”
Participants welcomed the session as eye-opening. Maria Akurut, an International Relations student at Kampala International University, said, “We’ve realized the government is doing some great work in achieving the SDGs like quality education, clean water, and energy.”
Maria Nalumansi, another participant, noted, “SDGs are closely related to everything we do. We may think they’re just for the government, but they affect all of us. We need to work together for a better future.”
The event was part of UNAU’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness, build youth leadership, and encourage grassroots action in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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