Teso Youth Forum

The Teso Youth Forum (TYF) is TEDA's flagship annual summit and one of Uganda's leading platforms for youth leadership, civic engagement, innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development. Each year, the Forum convenes young leaders, government officials, Members of Parliament, cultural institutions, development partners, civil society, academia, investors, entrepreneurs, and the private sector to explore solutions to the region's most pressing challenges and unlock opportunities for sustainable growth.

More than a conference, the Teso Youth Forum is a catalyst for action. It connects ideas with investment, leadership with opportunity, and dialogue with measurable impact. Through meaningful conversations and strategic partnerships, the Forum empowers young people to influence policy, strengthen democratic participation, accelerate enterprise development, and shape the future of Eastern Uganda.

Our Strategic Pillars

• Youth Dialogue & Civic Engagement – Creating inclusive platforms where young people engage directly with decision-makers, influence public policy, and contribute to democratic governance.
• Leadership & Governance – Inspiring ethical, accountable, and transformational leadership for the next generation.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship – Showcasing youth-led innovations, startups, and business solutions that drive economic transformation.
• Investment & Opportunity – Connecting young people with employers, investors, development partners, scholarship providers, and enterprise support programmes.
• Regional Development – Promoting collaborative solutions that advance education, health, climate resilience, employment, digital transformation, and inclusive economic growth.

Why Attend?

• Engage with influential national, regional, and international leaders.
• Participate in high-level policy dialogues and governance conversations.
• Build strategic partnerships across government, business, academia, and civil society.
• Discover funding, investment, scholarships, internships, and career opportunities.
• Showcase your innovation, enterprise, research, or community initiative.
• Learn from globally respected speakers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and changemakers.
• Expand your professional network and become part of a growing regional movement for transformation.

What to Expect

• Visionary keynote addresses
• Ministerial and parliamentary dialogues
• Youth policy forums and governance conversations
• Entrepreneurship and innovation showcases
• Startup exhibitions and business networking
• Leadership and career development masterclasses
• Investment and partnership sessions
• Research and policy presentations
• Cultural performances and regional heritage celebrations
• Recognition of outstanding young leaders and innovators

Who Should Attend?

The Forum welcomes students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, youth organizations, community leaders, educators, government institutions, Members of Parliament, local governments, cultural institutions, development partners, corporate organizations, financial institutions, foundations, investors, media, and everyone committed to advancing youth leadership and sustainable development.

Partner With the Teso Youth Forum

The Teso Youth Forum offers a unique platform for organizations seeking to invest in youth leadership, innovation, enterprise, and regional development.

Whether you are a development partner, corporate organization, foundation, university, financial institution, investor, media house, or government agency, your partnership helps expand opportunities for thousands of young people while strengthening inclusive and sustainable development across Eastern Uganda.

Partnership Opportunities

• Strategic Partners
• Corporate Sponsors
• Development Partners
• Knowledge & Research Partners
• Innovation & Technology Partners
• Youth Employment Partners
• Scholarship & Education Partners
• Media & Visibility Partners
• Exhibition & Startup Partners
• Community Impact Partners

Together, we can build a stronger ecosystem where leadership, innovation, investment, and opportunity drive lasting regional transformation.

Become a Sponsor

By sponsoring the Teso Youth Forum, your organization will:

• Position its brand alongside one of Eastern Uganda's premier youth and development summits.
• Engage directly with emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers, and future professionals.
• Demonstrate commitment to youth empowerment, innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
• Build meaningful relationships with government, civil society, academia, development agencies, and the private sector.
• Contribute to measurable social and economic impact while advancing your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments.

Be Part of the Movement

The future of Eastern Uganda will be shaped by bold ideas, courageous leadership, and meaningful collaboration.

Whether you are attending as a participant, exhibiting your innovation, investing in young entrepreneurs, sponsoring the Forum, or partnering to deliver lasting impact, the Teso Youth Forum is where leadership meets opportunity and ideas become action.

Join us at the next Teso Youth Forum—and help shape the future of Eastern Uganda.