The State Minister for Mineral Development, Hon. Phiona Nyamutooro, has called on Ugandan youth to take a leading role in shaping the country’s energy landscape.
Speaking at the launch of the Youth Energy Summit Uganda Chapter on Saturday, Minister Nyamutooro hailed the initiative as a timely platform that reflects the passion, creativity, and leadership potential of Uganda’s young population.
“Uganda is at a turning point in its energy journey,” she said. “We are working towards universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services. With over 78% of our population under the age of 30, youth are not just a demographic statistic, they are our greatest asset.”
Addressing the summit’s participants, the Minister urged the youth to reject the notion that leadership is reserved for the future.
“You are not leaders of tomorrow, you are leaders of today. The ideas you generate, the technologies you embrace, and the communities you inspire will define Uganda’s energy future.”
She acknowledged the country’s progress in expanding access to electricity and promoting renewable energy but noted that millions still lack reliable power and continue to depend on traditional biomass for cooking, posing health and environmental risks.
Minister Nyamutooro encouraged young people to play an active role in the energy transition by embracing innovative solutions such as digital technologies, decentralized energy systems, clean cooking alternatives, and community-led initiatives.
Drawing from her personal experience, she spoke of a recent clean cooking campaign launched in her home district, where communities responded with enthusiasm, proof, she said, of the transformative power of innovation.
“Be the entrepreneurs who see opportunity in adversity, the engineers who build resilient systems, and the advocates who fight for energy equity, financial inclusion, and climate justice,” she said.
Encouraging a spirit of resilience and experimentation, the Minister added, “Do not fear failure. Fail fast, learn faster.”
She also called on the private sector and development partners to invest more in youth-led innovations by offering mentorship, funding, infrastructure, and policy support to help bring young people’s ideas to life.
Nyamutooro urged all attendees to become ambassadors of the Youth Energy Summit and champions of Uganda’s energy transition.
“Together, we can build an energy sector that is not only sustainable but also just, inclusive, and powered by Ugandan talent.”
She concluded her remarks with a touch of humour, saying that while she wouldn’t dance herself, the youth were free to dance on her behalf, joking that if she ever charged for her services as a dance promoter, she’d never go broke.
