President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the youth across Africa and the Arab world to embrace unity, patriotism and pan Africanism as tools for peace and prosperity as he was closing the Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025 on Friday, 10th October, at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The five-day congress, held under the theme: “Amplifying Youth Voices for Peace, Unity and Prosperity,” ran from 6th – 10th October, 2025, bringing together youth leaders, government officials, diplomats, and representatives from across Africa and the Arab world to plan a new path for collaboration and progress.
Museveni also launched a fundraising drive to support youth programs that encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, and continental collaboration.
Addressing delegates, the President highlighted Africa’s growing population, currently at 1.5 billion and projected to reach 2.5 billion in 30 years, as a unique opportunity for the continent to assert its global relevance.
“You young people need to know that you belong to the future of the world, the future belongs here in the Afro-Arab world,” Museveni said.
He identified ideological disorientation, fragmented markets, and political tribalism as key obstacles holding Africa back.
He said that countries must prioritize politics of interest over identity, noting that prosperity comes from production and trade, not tribal or sectarian politics.
“Africa is divided into 55 small markets, who will buy what you produce?” he asked, urging youth to support regional integration as a path to sustainable development.
The President called on young people to embrace both patriotism and Pan-Africanism.
The continent’s collective success depends on cooperation and shared goals. “Love your country, but also be Pan-Africanists because Uganda cannot thrive without Africa,” he said,
Leaders from across Africa and the Arab world praised the initiative.
Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, the Special Envoy on Youth and Gender Issues to the AU Chairperson, praised Uganda for empowering women and youth, noting that leadership positions such as Vice President and Prime Minister are held by women.
Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki praised the congress as a platform connecting regions, noting that youth-led enterprises offer solutions to Africa’s pressing challenges.
“Youth-driven businesses are not just ventures; they are the key to solving Africa’s most urgent problems,” he emphasized.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, representing the UAE President, emphasized the Emirates’ dedication to empowering youth, expressing their belief that young people are the key drivers of change.
“Empowering young people is the key to progress, they are the catalysts for transformation,” he stated.
The Afro-Arab Youth Congress President, H.E Abdul Haddi Lahweej said that the shared destiny of both regions, calling for renewed unity and a strong voice for peace, particularly in Palestine.
“Africa must push for peace and stop wars, we must condemn oppression and work together for a better future,” Lahweej noted.
By emphasizing unity, Pan-Africanism, entrepreneurship, and the empowerment of women and youth, leaders highlighted that the continent’s growth depends on cooperation, innovation, and shared responsibility.
As the Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025 concluded, it highlighted that unity, cooperation, and regional integration are essential for Africa’s progress, and that it is the youth, through dialogue, collaboration, and leadership, who will carry this vision forward toward a more prosperous and peaceful future for Africa and the Arab world.
