Uganda Model United Nations Conference 2025: Youth for a Healthy Planet

The Uganda Model United Nations (UMUN) Conference 2025 brought together young leaders, brimming with energy, ideas, and purpose. The event attracted numerous participants and observers, including members of the media eager to capture the compelling stories and insights emerging from the young diplomats in action.

After days of thorough preparation, the conference was officially opened under the theme: “Youth for a Healthy Planet: Fighting Tobacco, Protecting our Climate, Shaping our Future.” The theme underscored the important role of youth in addressing two interconnected global challenges, tobacco control and climate change while emphasizing their shared responsibility in shaping a sustainable future.

The General Assembly came alive with vibrant debate, diplomacy, and collaboration. Delegations engaged in lobbying and strategic discussions on key issues ranging from sustainable financing and partnerships to collective action frameworks. Each delegation worked diligently to ensure their perspectives were represented and reflected in the conference outcomes.

In his opening address, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU), called upon young people to embody the spirit of global citizenship. He urged them to challenge mediocrity, safeguard the positive values within their cultures, and nurture their sense of purpose with confidence and integrity. “Young people were once called the leaders of tomorrow,” he remarked, “but that tomorrow is already here they are leading today.”

A central focus of the conference was the growing concern over the deceptive influence of the tobacco industry, which continues to target young people through manipulative marketing and misleading narratives. This issue was thoughtfully explored in a keynote address by Mr. Aziz Agaba from the Uganda National Consumers’ Organization, who  the need for youth-driven advocacy and policy engagement to counter these tactics and promote healthier, tobacco-free communities.

The 2025 UMUN Conference reaffirmed the transformative power of youth leadership in shaping policy, influencing global discourse, and championing sustainable development. It served as a reminder that when young people unite for a cause greater than themselves, they become the driving force of change protecting both people and the planet.