Youth March for Unity, Fight Corruption.
Kampala, Uganda — A powerful message of East African integration and anti-corruption was delivered today as dignitaries flagged off the second Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage Safari.
This youth-led initiative, organized by the Afrika Mashariki Fest (AMF), sends young people on a journey to Butiama, Tanzania—the final resting place of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, founding father of Tanzania and a key figure in the region’s unity efforts.
The pilgrimage not only commemorates Nyerere’s enduring legacy but also celebrates the 26th anniversary of the revived East African Community (EAC).
The high-profile flag-off event included Brig Gen Henry Isoke, Head of the Uganda government’s Anti-Graft unit, alongside H.E. Amb. Maj Gen Paul Kisesa Simuli, Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Uganda, and H.E Amb. Joash Maangi, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Uganda.
Integrity and Unity: A Dual Mandate for Youth
The Chief Guest, Tanzanian High Commissioner H.E. Amb. Maj Gen Paul Kisesa Simuli, extended gratitude to Ugandan President H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the First Lady Mama Janet Museveni for their sponsorship. He warmly welcomed the participants to Tanzania, urging them to use the trip to “closely study Nyerere’s values” and accept their “sole responsibility to join East African as one.”
Echoing the call for urgency, Kenyan High Commissioner H.E. Amb. Joash Maangi declared that “the time for East African integration is now,” challenging the youth to fulfill this mission. He advised them to proudly identify as “East Africanists” to ensure regional economies thrive and poverty is eradicated across the community.
Brig Gen Henry Isoke focused his remarks on the critical role of integrity. He passionately urged the participants to embrace the “incorruptible character” embodied by Mwalimu Nyerere. Isoke underscored the need for the youth to return from the pilgrimage energized and equipped to fight corruption, a vice he noted “takes away over 5% of the global GDP annually,” and to uphold strong moral values.
Building on the ‘Butiama Accord’
Dr. Kisembo Tendo, CEO of Afrika Mashariki Fest, provided context for the journey, recalling that the first edition yielded the influential Butiama Accord. This document, presented to EAC Heads of State, called for deeper integration, tackling corruption, youth investment, and the widespread adoption of Kiswahili.
Dr. Tendo noted that the second edition is specifically focused on advancing the use of Kiswahili and deeply instilling EAC values among the next generation of leaders. He concluded by reiterating his thanks to President Museveni for his “unwavering support” towards the pilgrimage, emphasizing the journey’s mission to strengthen the bond of the East African Community.
The pilgrimage represents a significant youth-led effort to translate the dream of a united East Africa—a dream fiercely championed by Mwalimu Nyerere—into a thriving, integrated, and ethical reality.
