UNESCO Uganda elects new youth leaders to drive peace, innovation
The new leadership team will serve under the Uganda National Commission (UNATCOM) Youth Committee to advance UNESCO’s mandate and implement its strategic plan.
The Deputy secretary general UNESCO Uganda Dr. Dominic Mundrugo Ogo-Lali (third right) poses for a photograph with the outgoing UNATCOM youth committee during the handover ceremony in Kampala. (Photos by Francis Emorut)
By Francis Emorut
Journalists @New Vision
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UNESCO Uganda has elected new youth leaders to promote peace and scientific and technological innovation.
The new leadership team will serve under the Uganda National Commission (UNATCOM) Youth Committee to advance UNESCO’s mandate and implement its strategic plan.
Paul Acaye from the Uganda National Students Association was elected chairperson, while the position of vice-chairperson went to Grace Amito. Other members include Mitchell Mugenyi as general secretary and Alex Lukyamuzi Lwesabula as publicity secretary.
The elections, held in Kampala on September 20, 2025, were observed by the UNATCOM deputy secretary general for UNESCO, Dr Dominic Mundrugo Ogo-Lali.
The UNATCOM secretary general for UNESCO, Dr Rosie Agoi, urged the new leaders to rally other young people across the country to promote peace and reject violence in the name of Gen Z.
She advised them to align their programmes with the National Development Plan IV and UNESCO’s strategic plan, particularly in promoting peace and advancing scientific and technological innovation. Dr Agoi further called on the leaders to ensure the voices of young people are heard at national, regional, and UN General Assembly platforms.
The Deputy secretary general UNESCO Uganda Dr. Dominic Mundrugo Ogo-Lali ( right) handsover a certificate to the outgoing UNATCOM youth committee chairperson Charity Agaba during the new leadership handover ceremony in Kampala. 
Dr Mundrugo praised the outgoing youth leaders for the progress they made in promoting UNESCO activities in Uganda, noting their strong performance under the leadership of Charity Agaba.
He encouraged the new team to study and internalise UNESCO’s mandate and the Uganda National Youth Council guidelines, stressing that their role makes them global citizens whose actions will be felt at UN conferences.
He cited the example of former foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa, who served as president of the UN General Assembly in 2015 and oversaw the adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr Mundrugo highlighted the need for the new leadership to prioritise UNESCO’s four pillars: peace, security, human rights, and sustainable development.
Outgoing chairperson Charity Agaba urged her successors to strengthen partnerships with youth-led organisations and to work collaboratively as a team.
New leaders speak out
Acaye said the new role is an opportunity to serve Uganda’s youth and to become global citizens, promising to build on the high standards set by their predecessors.
Amito said she was inspired by UNESCO’s mandate and pledged to ensure policies that support young people are implemented wherever possible.
Mugenyi told participants she would work to champion UNESCO’s mission in Uganda.
According to Dr Mundrugo, the new leadership will undergo orientation in November.
The outgoing team was awarded certificates for excellent performance in leading youth programmes under UNESCO Uganda.