Uganda’s Long Wait for Tomorrow: The Generation That Never Got to Lead

By Alexander Luyima

In 1986, when Yoweri Museveni took power, he declared,

> “This is not a mere change of guard, it is a fundamental change in the politics of our country.”

For millions of Ugandans, those words sounded like salvation. We believed in a new Uganda a nation reborn in justice, unity, and freedom. But for those of us born around that time, the “leaders of tomorrow,” our tomorrow never came.

Four Decades of Power and Broken Promises

Nearly forty years later, Mr. Museveni remains in power, and the dreams of an entire generation remain suspended. What began as a revolution for liberation has hardened into a system of control.
Political scholar Dr. Grace Byaruhanga puts it bluntly:

> “Museveni’s government began as a movement for national healing but evolved into personal rule one where loyalty matters more than merit.”

Constitutional amendments have erased presidential term and age limits, closing the doors to generational change. Uganda’s sovereignty now feels less like the people’s will and more like the will of one man.

The Youth That Refuse Silence

Uganda’s youth, who make up more than 75% of the population, are educated, connected, and increasingly restless. They have turned to music, art, and digital activism to demand the future they were promised.

That’s why Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, has become more than a politician he’s a symbol of possibility. His National Unity Platform (NUP) has awakened a generation to the realization that leadership is not inherited; it’s earned.

> “We are the generation that refuses to inherit silence,” Bobi Wine often reminds us.

Why the Time for Change Is Now

Sociologist Dr. Mary Akello says:

> “Every generation reaches a point where fear gives way to courage. Uganda’s youth are at that point.”

 

The world is watching as Uganda’s young people reclaim their voice and demand accountability. Change may be resisted, but it cannot be delayed forever.

Tomorrow’s leaders are no longer waiting. They are speaking and Uganda must listen.

Uganda’s youth were promised to be the “leaders of tomorrow,” but after nearly 40 years of Museveni’s rule, they’re demanding change through the rise of Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform.