Salim Uhuru, the mayor of Kampala Central, has called on Ugandan youths to seize the opportunity presented by the Afro-Arab Youth Congress to attract investment and foster development in Uganda and across the African continent.
]Speaking to Bbeg Media during the opening of the Afro-Arab Youth Congress, Uhuru urged young people to recognize that there is no free money or services.
“They must use this platform to attract investment by persuading their peers to return and invest in untapped sectors, which can equip them with skills and create jobs,” Uhuru said.
He revealed that by the end of the four-day congress, he aims to ensure that delegates from various African and Arab countries sign memoranda of understanding focused on job creation, slum redevelopment, technological advancement, trade and commerce, real estate, housing, urban development, and accessible banking with affordable loans to empower youths to start their own businesses.
As mayor, Uhuru said he has already made connections with delegates and expressed his desire to have them visit slum areas in his division to identify strategies for redevelopment. He emphasized that youth delegates from both continents share common challenges, including poverty, high crime rates, HIV/AIDS prevalence, school dropouts, and drug abuse—all largely driven by youth unemployment. Uhuru stressed the need for collective action to address these issues.
The Afro-Arab Youth Congress, held in Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, has attracted over 1,000 young participants from youth organizations, youth-led NGOs, and political party youth leagues across 60 African and Arab countries.
