KAMPALA Uganda (UGNEWSLINE) – The Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, has expressed concern over the rising cases of mental health challenges among young people, calling on parents, guardians and communities to support those affected instead of isolating or stigmatising them.
He made the remarks on November 9, 2026, during a media engagement with members of the Kampala Archdiocese Journalists Association (KAJA) held at St. Augustine Institute in Nsambya, Kampala.
The meeting was organised to sensitise journalists about the forthcoming National Youth Convention 2026, scheduled to take place from December 7 to 13 at the Youth Encounter with the Saviour (YES) Centre in Nsambya.
Semogerere urged journalists to report positively and responsibly on issues affecting young people, saying the media has an important role to play in ensuring that messages delivered by experts during the convention create a positive impact in communities.
During the engagement, the Archbishop responded to questions from journalists about the Catholic Church’s efforts to address the challenges facing young people, including mental health conditions, drug abuse, alcoholism, poverty, limited access to education, domestic violence, economic empowerment and unemployment.
Other issues expected to feature during the convention include marriage, strengthening faith, spiritual nourishment and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in society.
The Archbishop expressed particular concern about the increasing mental health challenges among young people, emphasising that parents, guardians and communities have a shared responsibility to identify and address the root causes of the problem.
He said the Catholic Church had established structures and departments to address the different needs of young people, starting at the family level and extending to the archdiocese.
Through these structures, priests, bishops and other professionals are mandated to provide guidance and counselling to young people, helping them develop discipline, uphold integrity, love one another and embrace Catholic moral values.
Semogerere also encouraged young people with the financial ability to support and participate in the convention, saying the gathering would provide an opportunity to share messages of hope, repentance and resilience while celebrating their faith and interacting with fellow young people from across Uganda and beyond.
He was accompanied by the convention’s organising committee chairperson, Dr. George William Ssekanjako, the Director of Youth Chaplaincy, Joseph Mary Ssebunya, and other youth leaders from Kampala Archdiocese.
National Youth Convention 2026
The National Youth Convention is a major Catholic gathering that brings together young people from different dioceses to strengthen their faith, promote unity and discuss issues affecting their lives and communities.
The 2026 edition will be hosted by Kampala Archdiocese at the YES Centre in Nsambya under the theme, “Take Courage, I Have Overcome the World” (John 16:33).
The convention draws inspiration from World Youth Day (WYD), an international gathering of Catholic young people aged 16 to 35, established by Pope John Paul II in 1984. The international event brings together participants from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds to promote spiritual growth, mutual learning and appreciation of diversity.
Uganda’s National Youth Convention follows a similar model, bringing together Catholic young people from the four ecclesiastical provinces of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, namely Kampala, Gulu, Mbarara and Tororo, for a week-long gathering.
Since its establishment, the convention has rotated among the four ecclesiastical provinces, with dioceses taking turns to host the event. Each gathering has contributed to strengthening youth ministry, promoting national solidarity and encouraging young people to embrace their faith.
Attendance has continued to grow, making the convention one of the major Catholic youth gatherings in East Africa. In 2024, Hoima Diocese hosted more than 15,000 young people, while Gulu Archdiocese welcomed over 13,000 participants in 2025 under the theme, “You Also Are My Witnesses” (John 15:27).
Each host province brings its cultural identity and diversity to the gathering, strengthening the convention’s national character and creating opportunities for young people to interact and learn from one another.
Kampala Province to Host 2026 Edition
The Uganda Episcopal Conference, through its National Youth Department, assigns an ecclesiastical province to select a diocese to host the National Youth Convention.
For the 2026 edition, the Kampala Ecclesiastical Province was selected and entrusted with organising the event through the Kampala Ecclesiastical Province Youth Apostolate (KEYA).
KEYA brings together young people from the five dioceses within the Kampala Metropolitan ecclesiastical province: Kasana-Luweero, Lugazi, Kiyinda-Mityana, Masaka and Kampala.
Under the leadership of the Kampala Archdiocesan Children and Youth Apostolate (KAYA), KEYA will host the convention at the YES Centre in Nsambya under the name NYC2026@KEYA.
KAYA’s Foundation and Mission
The Kampala Archdiocesan Children and Youth Apostolate (KAYA) was established in 1974 by the late Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga to provide hope and direction to Catholic young people facing the social and political challenges of that time.
Today, KAYA brings together young people born, living, working or studying within Kampala Archdiocese.
Guided by the values of loving, caring and sharing, the apostolate seeks to help young people encounter the Saviour through evangelisation, spirituality, apostolic formation and social development.
Its mission is to prepare young people to become responsible leaders and entrepreneurs who can make meaningful contributions to the Church and society.
Focus on Faith, Unity and Contemporary Challenges
The National Youth Convention provides Ugandan young people with an opportunity to experience the spiritual renewal, joy and empowerment associated with World Youth Day within their own country.
One of its major priorities is strengthening faith formation and spiritual renewal. Organisers say young people are the present and future of the Church, making it important to provide opportunities for them to deepen their relationship with Christ through liturgy, the sacraments, prayer, sports and workshops.
The convention will also promote unity and cultural diversity by bringing together young people from different dioceses and cultural backgrounds. Through interaction and shared experiences, participants are expected to strengthen national solidarity, develop friendships and appreciate one another’s cultural identities.
Another key focus will be addressing contemporary challenges affecting young people, particularly unemployment, limited employment opportunities, mental health struggles, changing cultural values, relationship difficulties and environmental concerns.
These issues will be discussed through expert presentations, workshops and personal testimonies guided by Catholic Social Teaching.
The gathering will also emphasise leadership development and the responsibility of young people to serve the Church and society with integrity, courage and commitment. Through discussions, formation and community outreach, participants will be encouraged to become responsible leaders and active members of their communities.
In addition, the convention seeks to strengthen the connection between Ugandan Catholic youth and the universal Catholic Church by aligning its activities with World Youth Day themes and papal messages.
Objectives and Expected Impact
Through the 2026 convention, organisers hope to deepen faith formation through liturgy, the sacraments, prayer and catechesis while strengthening unity among young people from different cultural and social backgrounds.
The gathering also aims to equip participants with practical knowledge and spiritual resilience to address challenges such as unemployment, poverty, mental health struggles and changing cultural values.
Organisers further expect the convention to inspire a new generation of young leaders who will serve the Church and society with integrity, courage and a strong sense of mission.
The initiative is also intended to strengthen young people’s relationship with the universal Catholic Church through engagement with World Youth Day themes and papal teachings.
Expected Attendance and Programme
The organisers expect between 20,000 and 25,000 participants, comprising Catholic young people aged 13 to 35 from dioceses across Uganda and neighbouring countries. Youth leaders, chaplains and representatives of various institutions are also expected to attend.
The week-long programme will feature several spiritual activities, including Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, confession, the Rosary and testimonies on religious vocations.
Participants will also attend formation sessions and discussions covering mental health, unemployment, chastity, leadership and Catholic Social Teaching.
The programme will provide opportunities for interaction through small-group discussions, question-and-answer sessions with bishops, talent showcases and sports activities.
Beyond the spiritual and educational sessions, the convention will include community outreach activities in Kampala, cultural performances and youth-led liturgical celebrations.
A Call for Support
The National Youth Convention 2026 is expected to provide a platform for hope, courage, unity and spiritual renewal among Uganda’s Catholic young people.
Inspired by Christ’s words, “Take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), the gathering seeks to strengthen young people’s faith while equipping them with the knowledge, values and resilience needed to overcome challenges in their lives.
With the backing of the Catholic Church, organisers and other partners, the convention aims to leave a lasting impact on young people, their communities and society.
Funders, institutions and other stakeholders are therefore being invited to support the initiative and contribute towards making the 2026 gathering a success.
