His speech brimmed with wisdom and vision for political integration. Echoing the urgency of uniting Africa, President Yoweri Museveni’s words resonated with the audience at the recent East African Community (EAC) Heads of State engagement in Tanzania.
But as I watched, I couldn’t help but notice the hesitation in the room, a lack of courage to act even when the opportunity was ripe.
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It reminded me of the African political and social actors Museveni referred to in his speech-figures from history who, despite their influence, often failed to rise to the challenges of their time.
This moment left me with a haunting question: Was President Museveni preaching to the wrong congregation? The leaders in the room, though inspired, are part of systems entrenched in bureaucracy and caution.
The force we need the one Museveni and other visionaries had in the 1960s- is the youth. Similarly, today, there is a clear-headed, vibrant, and immunised generation that can carry forward the banner of Africanisation.
But why, then, was this critical demographic absent from the sidelines of this event? Why are we not actively shaping them to take on this mantle?
The Problem: An Ideological Deficiency
I observed that Africa does not suffer from lack of resources or talent; it suffers from a deficiency of ideological clarity and courage.
In the 60s,African leaders the likes of Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, and the youthful Museveni championed a shared ideology of self-reliance, unity and liberation from external control inspiring generations to believe in the African cause thus acting with unwavering commitment.
These leaders inspired a generation to believe in the African cause by acting with unwavering commitment. Today, that fire has dimmed. Africa is like a fragmented organism-vibrant in its resources, cultures, and talent, yet struggling to function as a cohesive whole.
Leadership is detached from the people with lofty visions failing to translate into tangible change for the grassroots in that, Policies and initiatives often bypass the farmers, traders, teachers, and youth who form the backbone of the continent, leaving them excluded and apathetic.
Meanwhile, the bloodstream of this organism-its systems of trade, education, and cultural transmission is contaminated by colonial legacies, external debts, and ideologies that do not serve Africa’s unique context.
The African continent exports raw materials at low prices while importing expensive finished goods, perpetuating cycles of dependency. Besides that, Africa’s education system emphasizes outdated colonial curricula, leaving graduates ill-equipped to solve Africa’s pressing challenges.
As a result, Africa’s immune system-its unity, self-belief and strategic foresight- has grown dormant. The ideological clarity that once fueled liberation movements has faded, replaced by divisions, distractions, and dependency.
Rightly, several of the youth are captivated by the allure of Western lifestyles, distracted by social media and disconnected from the continent’s struggles and opportunities.
Without ideological immunization, they lack the resistance to neo-colonialism and courage to fight for Africa’s sovereignty and prosperity.
Africa’s revival depends on addressing this fragmentation. It requires reuniting leadership with the people, cleansing its systems of external toxins, and rebuilding an immune system of unity and self-belief.
Most importantly, it calls for the ideological awakening of its vibrant youth, immunized generation ready to lead the continent toward a future of sovereignty and shared prosperity.
A Biblical and Philosophical Lens
The Bible reminds us of the importance of engaging the youth. In the story of David and Goliath, it was not the seasoned warriors who defeated the giant but a young shepherd with faith, clarity, and courage.
The youthful David was not a liability-it was his strength. Today, Africa’s youth, the likes of David, have the energy and creativity to face the “giants” of economic dependency, political fragmentation, and cultural erosion.
Similarly, Aristotle believed in the power of education to shape citizens. He said, “Give me a child until he is seven, and I will show you the man.” The formative years of Africa’s young people must be infused with ideological clarity by teaching them to value unity, self-reliance, and the vision of an Africa capable of being independent and standing strong.
The Case for Youth Engagement
President Museveni, with his wisdom and vast network, is uniquely positioned to lead this ideological revolution.
Imagine an initiative that brings together young leaders from all sectors across Africa politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, and artists for a program of ideological immunization.
Recognized for its emphasis on ideological training, Uganda’s Kyankwanzi National Leadership Institute in Uganda could be the perfect model.
Why Kyankwanzi for Africa’s Youth?
Kyankwanzi is not just a place, it is a concept that epitomizes discipline, clarity of purpose and the cultivation of leaders who understand the importance of both national and continental self-reliance.
Expanding this to a Pan-African level would create a generation of young leaders deeply rooted in the principles of unity, African pride, and strategic thinking.
A Practical Vision
Envisage an annual African Leadership and Ideology Summit held in partnership with institutions like Uganda’s Kyankwanzi National Leadership Institute bringing together young leaders from across Africa gathering to:
- Learn from seasoned leaders like Museveni about the history of African liberation and the importance of unity.
- Engaging youth in workshops on modern challenges like technological self-reliance, environmental sustainability, and economic independence.
- Build networks that transcend borders, fostering Pan-African solidarity.
This initiative would not be a one-time event but the beginning of a sustained movement-a network of young Africans immunized against ideological confusion and ready to carry the torch of Africanization.
What’s at Stake
The consequences of failing to engage the youth are dire. Without a clear ideology, Africa risks remaining a lion in chains rich in resources but dependent, divided, and distracted.
The distractions of modernity, like football fanaticism and Western consumer culture, will continue to wrench the youth away from the African agenda. But with the right ideological foundation, Africa’s youth can become a force that reshapes the continent.
Quoting the Bible Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This is our moment to train up a generation of young Africans who will not only embrace the African dream but actualize it.
A Call to Action
Your Excellencies, leaders of Africa, the time to act is now. The EAC event in Tanzania was a reminder that wisdom alone is not enough, it must be paired with courage and action. Engage the youth by providing them with tools, the ideology and links to lead.
Museveni’s vision, Nyerere’s wisdom and Nkrumah’s courage shouldn’t remain relics of the past, they should be turned into guiding lights of the future.
Africa is not waiting for the world to save it. Africa is waiting for its youth to rise. Let us build an Africa that is united, sovereign, and thriving. Let us immunize our young generation with the clarity and courage to accomplish the work that was started.
The time is now. Let us begin.
The writer, Onesmus Bitaliwo, PhD is a public policy analyst/pan Africanist
