By Elijah Khisa
The government has reportedly finalised plans to regulate the use of social media platforms, with the aim of ensuring that users benefit economically from the opportunities offered by digital technology.
As part of the planned measures, the government intends to deploy digital equipment capable of tracing and tracking individuals who abuse social media platforms and ensuring that those found culpable are held accountable through courts of law.
The remarks were made on Saturday, November 7, 2026, by Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi while officiating at the fourth annual International Community of Banyakigezi (ICOB) Uganda Chapter Youth Dialogue held at the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Statistics House in Kampala.
The half-day engagement attracted more than 300 university students from various institutions of higher learning under the theme, “The Role of the Youth in the Implementation of the Strategic Goals of the Kigezi Youth Strategic Plan 2026–2031.”
Baryomunsi, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kinkizi East Constituency in Kanungu District, expressed concern that some young people, including those from his constituency, had resorted to using social media platforms to abuse him.
He warned that it was unproductive for young people to waste valuable time engaging in online insults and other activities that do not contribute to their personal development or society.
He challenged university students to desist from unproductive practices, including the misuse of digital communication platforms, reckless sexual behaviour and greed for resources, urging them to concentrate on their education and prepare themselves for leadership responsibilities.
“Be resilient, be intentional about what you want to do and work towards your goals and objectives. Be disciplined, live a responsible life and avoid acts that put your life in jeopardy,” he advised.
The minister congratulated the ICOB Uganda Chapter leadership, led by its president, Grace Mugabirwe Mutebire, and her team for supporting and encouraging university students to pursue academic excellence and plan for a better future for the Kigezi region.
He pledged to explore opportunities for securing higher education scholarships through government-to-government arrangements, ministerial programmes and development partners to enable students to pursue advanced academic qualifications and eventually return to serve their communities.
The keynote address was delivered by Bank of Uganda Deputy Governor Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, who was represented by the central bank’s Director of Internal Audit, Ivan Matsiko Amagaraga.
Matsiko said young people were a critical component of Uganda’s national development agenda and deserved greater consideration when it came to employment opportunities.
He expressed concern that the creation of jobs was not keeping pace with the growing number of young job seekers, leaving many unemployed, out of school or without access to vocational skills training opportunities.
He also noted that young people remained inadequately represented in decision-making positions and government institutions, limiting their ability to articulate their concerns at policy level and influence access to state resources and strategic economic empowerment programmes.
The chairperson of the organising committee, Dr Andrew Turiheihi, welcomed students from Makerere University, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Kyambogo University, Uganda Christian University (UCU), Kampala International University (KIU), King Ceasor University and Metropolitan International University, among other institutions.
He commended the students for embracing the chapter’s capacity-building programmes and highlighted its history and Strategic Plan 2026–2031, which was recently launched.
Turiheihi said the plan seeks to foster unity in diversity, preserve Banyakigezi culture and heritage, empower members with economic skills and promote integrity within the community.
ICOB Uganda Chapter president Grace Mugabirwe Mutebire said the organisation would continue engaging government and development partners to support the development agenda of the Banyakigezi community.
She said the chapter would lobby for infrastructure development, including improved road networks, access to education for all children, better healthcare and other essential social services for people in the region.
Mutebire also recognised senior citizens from Kigezi, including Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, former Bank of Uganda governor, and Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, for their contribution to the development of the Banyakigezi community both in Uganda and in the diaspora.
She said the chapter would continue strengthening the technical capacity of university students from Kigezi by linking them to employment opportunities, markets for their products and entrepreneurship initiatives, as well as vocational skills training programmes.
She thanked UBOS Executive Director Dr Chris Mukiza for providing the venue and technical logistical support for the event, describing him as a patriotic son of Banyakigezi.
The Banyakigezi community comprises people from districts in the Kigezi sub-region, including Kanungu, Rukiga, Rubanda and Kisoro, among others.
