A youth-led political advocacy group calling itself Gen Z for Gen 7 has launched a nationwide peace campaign urging Uganda’s young people to reject violence and embrace civic responsibility as the country approaches the 2026 general elections.
Speaking to journalists in Kampala, National Coordinator Israel Kyarisiima said the initiative, dubbed the “Gen Z Peaceful Elections Drive”, will engage students, digital communities, and transport hubs in a mission to protect the nation’s stability and secure the future of Generation Z.
“Our future as Gen Z depends on peace. Without peace, there is no hustle. Without stability, there is no service delivery. Without security, there is no future,” Kyarisiima declared.
He framed the campaign not just as a political statement, but as a generational call to action.
“This is not just politics, it’s about protecting our future. Peace is our hustle, and we will defend it.”
The group has thrown its support behind the ideology of President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), praising what it called a stable environment that has allowed young Ugandans — from boda boda riders to digital entrepreneurs , to prosper.
He criticized unnamed opposition leaders for what he described as manipulative tactics that exploit youth frustrations without offering tangible solutions.
“They incite us into street battles, violence, and destruction… They do not offer us jobs, they do not offer us business capital, they do not build our schools or our hospitals,” he said.
“Those promoting sectarianism and violent politics are not just threatening the elections, they are threatening our jobs, our creativity, and our future.”
The “Gen Z Peaceful Elections Drive” will span the country, targeting youth through schools, universities, and online platforms in a bid to promote voter education, nonviolence, and patriotic engagement.
According to Kyarisiima, the group is determined to ensure that peace, not chaos , defines Uganda’s political future.
He emphasized that peace, unity, and economic stability are inseparable, and credited President Museveni’s long-standing leadership for maintaining those pillars.
“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has for decades championed peace, stability, and development as the foundation of Uganda’s progress,” he said.
“It is under this vision and ideology of the NRM that today’s youth, the boda boda riders, the digital innovators, the creatives, the professionals, and the entrepreneurs, have been able to thrive.”
Ending his remarks with a rallying cry to the country’s youth, Kyarisiima called for unity and purpose ahead of the 2026 polls: “Uganda is our home, peace is our chance, and the future is in our hands.”
The Gen Z for Gen 7 patriotic initiative also aims to mobilise support for President Museveni among young people, including those in universities, boda bodas, markets, and other communities.
