Menya Erusaniya, President of Students Body Uganda (SBU) and prominent Kyambogo University student activist, has announced plans for an urgent African Youth Summit next month, following what he describes as the African Union’s failure to address the continent’s growing youth migration crisis.
The proposed summit at Kyambogo University aims to tackle the unprecedented exodus of young Africans to the Middle East and Western nations, a phenomenon that Erusaniya warns is creating “a modern form of slavery and undermining African dignity.”
“Thousands of our young people are leaving Sub-Saharan Africa to work as domestic workers and manual laborers abroad,” said Erusaniya. “The African Union’s recent summit in Uganda this January failed to address this critical issue that’s draining our continent of its future leaders.”
The SBU movement, which has gained significant traction across Ugandan universities since its formation last year, has been pushing for policy reforms both domestically and regionally. In late 2024, Erusaniya met with Uganda’s Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, to discuss various policy initiatives, though these efforts have yet to receive official government response.
University scholars supporting the initiative argue that the summit is crucial for developing concrete solutions to stem the tide of youth migration. The African Union has not yet responded to the call for this emergency gathering, even as the issue continues to draw international attention.
The proposed summit represents the latest in a series of advocacy efforts by the SBU movement, which has emerged as a significant voice for student interests in Uganda’s higher education landscape.
“This is not just about Uganda,” Erusaniya emphasized. “This is about the future of African youth across the continent. We need immediate, concrete action to address the root causes driving our young people away from their homelands.”
