The Buganda Kingdom, through its Ministry of Youth Affairs, has joined the global community in commemorating World Youth Skills Day, an annual event dedicated to promoting the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.
This year's celebrations were held under the theme: "Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills."
Presiding over the event, the Minister for Youth Affairs, Robert Serwanga Ssalongo, led a vibrant delegation on a tour of prominent innovation hubs in Kampala.
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Among the centers visited were the Makerere University Innovation Pod and the Makerere University Information Technology Innovation Center.
These institutions serve as key incubators for youth-led technological advancement, offering young innovators opportunities to transform their ideas into real-world solutions.
During the tour, youth from across Buganda showcased a variety of cutting-edge digital applications and AI-driven projects designed to address community challenges.
The visit provided an interactive platform for young tech enthusiasts to engage directly with the Kingdom's leadership and share their experiences in building digital solutions with social impact.
Minister Serwanga, in his keynote address, reaffirmed the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to empowering the youth through technology.
He emphasised the Ministry's focus on expanding access to artificial intelligence and digital skills training, integrating modern technology into all youth programs, and fostering strategic partnerships with leading tech institutions to create more opportunities for skill development.
"This year's Kingdom development agenda is centered on economic transformation through youth innovation," he noted.
"By providing young people with digital skills and the right mentorship, we are laying the foundation for a generation that will lead Buganda into a more prosperous and technologically advanced future."
The celebration also attracted a strong show of support from technology and innovation institutions. Several organisations pledged to work closely with the Ministry to offer specialised training programs, support youth-led innovations, and provide ongoing mentorship to help young people turn their creative ideas into sustainable ventures.
Accompanying the Minister were youth leaders from various counties within Buganda, legal advocate Derrick Kavuma, who currently heads the youth delegation in the Buganda Lukiiko (Parliament), and representatives from various youth forums and community innovation groups.
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Their participation underscored the Kingdom's inclusive and consultative approach to youth development, ensuring that all voices--especially those of the youth--are represented in shaping future programs.
The day's activities served not only as a celebration but also as a rallying point for young people across Buganda to embrace the opportunities presented by the digital age.
The Ministry of Youth urged all interested youth to stay engaged and look out for upcoming announcements regarding training opportunities and innovation programs.
As Buganda embraces the global shift toward technology-driven development, this year's World Youth Skills Day served as a reminder that the future of the Kingdom rests in the hands of digitally empowered and innovative youth.
With the right tools, support, and platforms, they are well positioned to shape a brighter, tech-savvy future for their communities and the nation at large.
