KAMPALA — African leaders, academics and young people have called for greater commitment to African unity, ethical leadership and public service as the Nyerere-Museveni Generation Dialogue 2026 opened at Makerere University.
The dialogue, held at Freedom Square under the theme “Borrowing from the Past, Building the Future,” brought together political leaders, scholars, students and members of the family of former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere to discuss lessons from Africa’s past and the responsibilities of the younger generation.
Dr Nansozi K. Muwanga, executive director of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC), said the theme challenged participants to consider what each generation should inherit and what it owes those who come after it.
“Borrowing from the past does not mean repeating it. It means learning from history, preserving what remains good and valuable, and adapting its lessons to today’s realities,” Muwanga said.
She said Nyerere’s legacy demonstrated that leadership should be based on service, African unity and putting the common good ahead of personal interests.
“Africa faces many challenges today, including persistent inequalities, climate change, technological disruption, and uneven economic transformation,” she said.
Muwanga added that young people needed opportunities to contribute fresh ideas to addressing these challenges.
“Young people bring fresh ideas and energy to addressing Africa’s challenges. One of the reasons we focus on young leaders is to enable them to bring new perspectives to the conversation,” she said.
The centre’s board chairperson, Dr Kasozi-Mulindwa Saturninus, said the dialogue was intended to pass knowledge and experience from older generations to younger people.
“We are borrowing and learning from the past to build the future. I do not doubt that, at the end of this symposium, especially the young generation, we will have learned lessons from the past and be able to look to the future with greater hope,” he said.
Kasozi-Mulindwa also acknowledged government support for the centre, saying President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had provided resources that enabled it to continue operating.
“At one time, we were almost closing. We said the Nyerere Centre cannot close. This financial year, the President gave us the resources we required to keep going, and we cannot take that for granted,” he said.
Museveni’s message highlights Nyerere’s contribution
In a message delivered by Dr Crispus Kiyonga, Makerere University chancellor, President Museveni said the dialogue should go beyond remembering Nyerere and examine Africa’s historical experiences, current challenges and future development.
“When we come together to honour the memory of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, we are not merely engaging in a historical commemoration. We are undertaking a serious audit of our continent’s past, evaluating our present struggles and charting the imperatives for our future survival and prosperity,” Museveni said.
He described Nyerere as a courageous and decisive leader, highlighting his support for anti-colonial struggles in Southern Africa and his opposition to the government of former Ugandan president Idi Amin.
“Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was not only courageous; he was exceptionally skilful and decisive,” Museveni said.
He added that Nyerere’s support for liberation movements and solidarity with Uganda during Amin’s rule remained significant contributions to Africa and humanity.
Museveni also criticised the divisions among African political leaders before independence, saying their failure to coordinate resistance against colonial rule weakened the continent.
“Instead of uniting, African chiefs were busy fighting one another. When some chiefs resisted foreign encroachment, their resistance was scattered, isolated and uncoordinated,” he said.
He urged Africans to assess their leaders against the continent’s development needs. “When we evaluate leaders, past and present, we must audit them against the strategic targets necessary to save, strengthen and secure Africa,” Museveni said.
The President also highlighted Nyerere’s belief in economic integration, saying fragmented national markets had limited business expansion after independence.
“Mwalimu Julius Nyerere understood that economic integration is the vital stimulus for enterprise growth. At independence, our countries had small, fragmented markets that could not adequately support business expansion,” he said.
Museveni also credited Nyerere with advancing education, child immunisation and infrastructure development, including the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and the University of Dar es Salaam.
Scholars call for African unity
Politician and sociologist Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said Nyerere’s contribution extended beyond Tanzania and Africa, describing him as a global figure whose legacy should be measured by how he used his abilities to serve humanity.
“It is what you do with the gift God gave you, and how you use it to serve universal values, that makes you a memorable and unforgettable human being,” Kabwegyere said. “Julius Nyerere was not just an African. He was a man of the world,” he added.
Kabwegyere said one of his greatest disappointments was the failure to achieve stronger political unity in East Africa. “My greatest disappointment is our failure to unite East Africa and build the unity that matters for our collective survival,” he said.
Makerere University Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Mwanaki Alinaitwe, said young people should not be treated merely as future leaders because many were already making decisions and influencing their communities.
“Sometimes we refer to people as young or upcoming leaders, but they are already leaders. The moment you reach 18, you are a leader,” Alinaitwe said.
He praised Nyerere’s role in uniting Tanganyika and Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
Alinaitwe also called for better urban planning in Uganda, arguing that well-planned cities and towns could bring communities closer to essential services.
“When we look at Uganda today, people are scattered across different areas. We need to think about developing well-planned cities and towns that bring communities closer to essential services,” he said.
He said Nyerere’s commitment to universal education remained relevant to Uganda, where the introduction of Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education had not made education entirely free.
Alinaitwe also highlighted Nyerere’s commitment to decolonisation, Pan-Africanism and the peaceful transfer of power.
Nyerere’s family urges young people to uphold his values
Prof. Sabatho Nyamsenda, a political science lecturer and researcher at the University of Dar es Salaam, said Nyerere’s legacy should be preserved through service, integrity and renewed efforts to unite Africa.
“Julius Nyerere is an African product, and we all have the duty and responsibility to celebrate and keep his legacy alive,” Nyamsenda said.
He said Nyerere had left behind a legacy of public service rather than personal wealth. “To Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, leadership was about service, not selfishness. He left no Swiss bank account, no hidden property, but a legacy of servant leadership and books for us to read,” he said.
Nyamsenda also praised Nyerere for relinquishing power, arguing that leaders should recognise when it is time to leave office.
“A good dancer knows when to leave the stage. Mwalimu Nyerere understood when it was time to relinquish power, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and service,” he said.
He warned that Africa’s youthful population could become a source of instability if young people’s frustrations were not addressed constructively. “If the anger of young people is not given philosophical direction, it can be channelled by the most backward and destructive forces, including xenophobic movements and terrorist groups.”
Julia Nyerere, Nyerere’s granddaughter, urged young Africans to preserve her grandfather’s values through their conduct and service to their communities.
“Carrying our grandfather’s legacy is not just about having his last name; it is about how we treat people, how we contribute to our communities, and what we pass down to our own children,” she said.
She said humility and respect for others were among the values the family remembered most about Nyerere.
“One thing that has always stayed with us about our grandfather is the importance of humility and treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of who they are or where they come from,” Julia said.
She also acknowledged the contribution of Nyerere’s wife, saying their grandmother had been his companion and source of strength throughout the challenges they faced together.
