Faith, Youth, and the Future: Dr. Lakisa Mercy Faith Assumes Office as Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs
Dr. Lakisa Mercy Faith officially assumed office on June 10, 2026, taking over from Balaam Barugahara. The new Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs pledges a three-pillar agenda focused on youth empowerment, child protection, and inclusive opportunities, while thanking H.E. President Museveni for the appointment.
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KAMPALA, Uganda – June 11, 2026 – A new chapter in Uganda’s pursuit of demographic dividends began yesterday as Dr. Lakisa Mercy Faith officially assumed office as the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, succeeding her senior colleague Balaam Barugahara in a handover ceremony marked by both solemnity and ambitious resolve.
The transition, which took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in Kampala on the evening of June 10, 2026, saw Dr. Lakisa pledge an administration rooted in “radical inclusion, economic empowerment, and the non-negotiable protection of every child.”
Addressing a room filled with ministry officials, civil society representatives, and youth leaders, Dr. Lakisa struck a tone of grateful continuity fused with urgent innovation.
“I do not take this baton lightly. My senior, Balaam Barugahara, laid tracks that many thought impossible,” she said. “But today, we move from conversation to velocity. Our young people are not just leaders of tomorrow—they are the workforce, the innovators, and the conscience of today.”
A Mandate for Empowerment and Protection
Dr. Lakisa outlined a three-pillar agenda effective immediately:
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Youth Livelihoods & Digital Opportunity: Launching a “Youth Skills to Capital” program that connects vocational training directly to startup financing and export markets, with a focus on agribusiness and technology.
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Child Protection Overhaul: Vowing to work with the Attorney General’s chambers to fast-track the implementation of the revised Children (Amendment) Act, with an emphasis on ending online exploitation and street homelessness.
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Inclusive Governance: Establishing a biannual “National Youth Cabinet” to advise her office, ensuring that youth with disabilities and those in refugee-hosting communities are not peripheral but central to policy design.
Gratitude to the Presidency
In her opening remarks, the new Minister took deliberate care to thank the architect of her appointment.
“I sincerely thank H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for this great opportunity to serve,” Dr. Lakisa stated, her voice steady. “His vision of a monetized, self-sustaining youth population is the compass by which I will steer this ministry. He did not just give me a title; he gave me a trust.”
A Smooth Transition
Outgoing Minister Balaam Barugahara, who has been redeployed in the recent cabinet reshuffle, described his successor as “a scholar with a fighter’s heart.”
“Dr. Lakisa doesn’t need briefs—she needs budget lines,” Barugahara joked during the handover. “I leave this office knowing that the children of Uganda have a mother who is also a strategist.”
Reactions from Stakeholders
Youth advocacy groups reacted with cautious optimism. The Uganda National Youth Network released a statement applauding Dr. Lakisa’s “academic rigor and grassroots touch,” while challenging her to ensure that youth representation moves beyond ceremonial roles to actual budget control.
As she signed the handover documents, Dr. Lakisa turned to the young staff members lining the walls. “Watch this space,” she said. “We are not here to manage poverty. We are here to engineer prosperity.”
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