KAMPALA
Former minister of State for tourism, Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, has warned that children of wealthy families risk being outpaced by their peers in rural communities because of what he called delayed maturity and reluctance to take responsibility.
Addressing the National Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Convention 2025 at Mestil Hotel Nsambya on Wednesday, Kiwanda said many children from affluent backgrounds remain dependent and “child-like” well into their twenties, unlike their counterparts in villages who are forced by circumstance to lead early.
“The children of the rich take too long to grow up. At 21 or 22, they are still being treated like kids. But in the villages, by the age of 18 or 19, young people are already in charge of households and communities. Some are even willing to risk their lives for responsibility,” Kiwanda said.
According to Kiwanda, many children of the rich take long to assume responsibility compared to the children of the poor. This trend, he argues, is creating a generation of entitled but unprepared leaders, raising concerns about the future of the ‘Jaydens’—the planned children of today’s elite.
In response, the youth told Kiwanda young people from humble backgrounds are cultivating resilience, independence, and leadership through struggle.
Godwin Toko, from Agora in a scornful and ironic swipe at the President’s son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba said: “My only disappointment is that you didn’t mention 52-year-olds who tweet like children.” He added that pampered children from wealthy families rarely develop the resilience of their peers from poor households. “Children of the poor grow up in villages and slums, where they shoulder responsibilities early and endure long hours on the road. That struggle forces them to grow up much faster,” he noted.
The youth further criticized the government for excluding them from participating in leadership.
“I believe that young people possess valuable leadership skills that deserve an opportunity to be explored and nurtured. However, there is also a need to intentionally prepare and position the next generation for leadership,” Godwin Toko said.
Additionally, Kiwanda challenged the young people not to wait for leadership spaces to be handed to them, stressing that even within families, no one surrenders responsibility without a fight.
“In life, nobody is going to leave space for you, not even your mother or father. You must prove you are capable of more. Space is fought for, not given,” he said.
The Chairman of the National Consultative Forum (Kiwanda) reflected on his own rise to Parliament in 2001, saying he positioned himself by working closely with senior leaders until he was ready to replace them. He urged the youth to desist from fighting the government, but participate in programs targeting the youth.
During the convention, CSOs leaders expressed concerns over regime that is crippling their operations and threatening the sector’s sustainability.
In a joint statement issued in Kampala, the organisations appealed to government to streamline registration and permit renewal processes, operationalise District NGO Monitoring Committees and digitise compliance requirements. They also demanded a reduction in registration costs and tax incentives for local philanthropy.
“Civil society remains a key partner in service delivery and governance. We therefore urge government to treat the sector as a genuine partner, not an adversary,” the statement read in part.
