Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has delivered a stirring message to Africa’s youth, challenging them to rise as the defenders and architects of a united, self-reliant continent.
Speaking at the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit held at Uganda’s Makerere University on April 24, 2025, Kenyatta called on university leaders and students from across East Africa to view themselves as the final guardians of Africa’s destiny.
“You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa,” Kenyatta declared, igniting a wave of applause across the auditorium.
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Positioning the current moment as Africa’s “new independence era,” Kenyatta pointed to the inward-looking shift of developed nations as a warning sign—and a wake-up call for African agency.
“No one is coming to save us,” he emphasized. “As the world turns inward, the places to seek refuge are disappearing. You are the freedom fighters of this generation.”
The former Head of State decried the continent’s low intra-African trade—still under 2.5% of global commerce—and urged for urgent removal of barriers to trade, the free movement of people, and youth-driven innovation.
Kenyatta described universities as “incubators of change” and told students they are “trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
“We cannot afford to rely on external help. This generation must build the Africa it envisions—strong, united, and prosperous,” he urged.
Uganda’s Vice President, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, echoed his sentiments while addressing the summit. She called for a deeper commitment to Pan-Africanism, unity, and collective implementation of shared goals.
“It is easy to say these words. The challenge lies in collective implementation,” she cautioned.
The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, drew student leaders and guild representatives from across East Africa. It served as a bold platform for youth voices to confront economic challenges, regional unity, and leadership accountability.
As global power dynamics shift, the message from Makerere was clear: Africa’s youth must lead the charge toward a future built on self-determination and continental solidarity.