Gen Z for Gen 7 has recognised Major Emma Kutesa for what it described as exceptional leadership that has helped reshape the lives of young people in some of Uganda’s most marginalised communities.
In a statement released this week, the youth-focused organisation said Major Kutesa’s work stood out in the ongoing “battle for the youth mind,” a struggle it says will ultimately determine the country’s social and civic future.
According to Gen Z for Gen 7, Major Kutesa’s influence has been most visible among ghetto and at-risk youth, where he prioritised mindset change over punishment or empty rhetoric.
Through sustained mentorship, discipline and hands-on engagement, he is credited with helping young people move away from survival-driven thinking toward purpose, responsibility and self-belief.
The organisation noted that his approach emphasised dignity, inclusion and lawful civic participation, contributing to calmer neighbourhoods and improved trust between youth and wider society. They argued that his leadership challenged the idea that order suppresses young people, instead showing that structure can channel youthful energy into productive and meaningful contribution.
“This recognition honours a leader who understood that lasting transformation begins in the mind,” the statement read, adding that Major Kutesa’s work demonstrates how guidance and consistency can restore direction and a sense of belonging among vulnerable youth.
Gen Z for Gen 7 said it remains committed to highlighting leadership that bridges generations and invests in the moral and civic development of young people, describing such efforts as essential to shaping a stable and progressive future.
The recognition places Major Kutesa among a growing number of figures being spotlighted for their role in youth mentorship at a time when concerns about identity, social fragmentation and disengagement continue to dominate public debate.
Connecting generations for progress.
