Africa-Press – Uganda. The Omukama of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba, on Tuesday visited the headquarters of Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) in Lungujja, Kampala, in a show of continued support for youth empowerment and innovation.
The visit, which also included Her Royal Highness Princess Ruth Nsemere Komuntale Akiiki, Prime Minister of Tooro Kingdom, Mr Calvin Rome Armstrong, and former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, coincided with the official launch of Impact Forge, RAHU’s flagship incubation program designed to equip young innovators and social entrepreneurs with mentorship, networks, and resources.
In his keynote address, King Oyo emphasized the centrality of young people in his 25-year development agenda and praised the enduring partnership between Tooro Kingdom and RAHU.
“It gives me great joy to join you all this morning as we celebrate culture, innovation, and the power of young people. I have always placed youth at the center of my 25-year Development Agenda, and today, as we launch Impact Forge, we reaffirm that investing in young people is investing in the future of our nation,” the King said.
King Oyo stressed that initiatives like Impact Forge are engines of transformation, providing young people with the tools to address contemporary challenges.
He also lauded the Kingdom’s collaboration with RAHU on programs such as Right Here Right Now (RHRN), which over the past decade has challenged harmful social norms, expanded access to health services, and created safe platforms for youth.
Reflecting on the recently concluded 30th Empango Anniversary, the King described it as a milestone of unity and resilience achieved through partnerships like that with RAHU. On culture, he highlighted the need to embrace change while preserving core values:
“Culture is not static; it is alive, dynamic, and youthful. By blending our cultural heritage with innovation and entrepreneurship, we are writing a new story for Uganda and Africa—one where young people lead with confidence, creativity, and courage,” he said.
Reach A Hand Uganda is a youth-led non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young people through advocacy, awareness campaigns, and community engagement.
The organization focuses on key youth issues, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), education, mental health, gender equality, and economic empowerment.
Princess Komuntale reinforced the event’s theme, “Bridging Culture with Advocacy for Impact,” urging communities to confront harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and gender-based violence.
“The challenge before us is not to abandon culture, but to bridge it with advocacy, to preserve what uplifts and courageously discard what destroys,” she said.
She also highlighted the success of the Tooro Youth Conference, organized in partnership with RAHU, which provided a platform for hundreds of young people to engage on health, entrepreneurship, and cultural identity.
“Let us preserve the positive values of our cultures—respect, unity, compassion, and resilience—while rejecting harmful practices. Let us listen to the voices of our young people, who are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also powerful advocates of today,” the Princess said.
RAHU CEO Humphrey Nabimanya welcomed the royal delegation and commended their unwavering support.
“Over the past 10 years, RAHU and Tooro Kingdom have worked hand in hand to invest in health, education, and cultural pride for the youth of Tooro and beyond. Together, we have shown what’s possible when traditional leadership, civil society, and young people come together,” Nabimanya said.
He described Impact Forge as a milestone that positions youth as true drivers of transformation rather than mere participants.
He also praised Princess Komuntale’s advocacy for women and girls through RAHU’s Leesu Initiative, which celebrates dignity, culture, and creativity among young women.
The event highlighted the growing collaboration between cultural institutions and civil society in advancing Uganda’s development, and underscored King Oyo’s patronage of initiatives such as the iKON Awards and RAHU’s partnership with Unesco to promote cultural tourism.
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