Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto to Deliver Keynote Address at the 2018 Young Achievers Awards

His Excellency, Deputy President of Kenya, William S. Ruto will deliver the Keynote address at the 2018 edition of the Young Achievers Awards (Uganda), the Founders & organizers of the Young Achievers Awards have officially announced.

His Excellency William S. Ruto will also be the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. He joins other prominent East Africans who have been recipients of this Award, including Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of republic of Rwanda, entrepreneur and industrialist Late James Mulwana, educationist Prof Senteza Kajubi, social justice campaigner, Noelina Kareeba, and Tanzanian Businessman and philanthropist Ali Mufuruki.

The Award ceremony will be hosted at Kampala, Serena Hotel on the 18th of August 2018, in Kampala under the theme “Rewarding Innovation And Excellence Recognizing of Young Entrepreneurs and Inspiring the Next Generation of world Leaders”.

The Awards will take place a week after celebrations to mark International Youth day. The Young Achievers Awards has since its inaugural Awards ceremony, recognized and celebrated outstanding Youth achievement in the Ugandan Community that have excelled in various realms such as the Arts, Entrepreneurship, Media and Journalism, Philanthropy, Innovation, Sports among others.

Speaking about the choice of Deputy President Ruto as keynote speaker, Awel Uwihanganye, Co- Founder Young Achievers Award said, “The Deputy President is a key voice and strong proponent of youth empowerment. His story of triumph against the odds, and achievements in leadership from a humble background to being a key leader in East Africa’s biggest economy resonates with dreams and aspirations of many young people in East Africa and Africa as a whole.”

Mr Ruto joined President Uhuru Kenyatta to form the Jubilee Alliance in 2012. The alliance brought together the United Republic Party (URP) led by Mr Ruto and the National Alliance Party (TNA) led by President Kenyatta. He became the running mate to President Kenyatta and eventually the Deputy President after the March 4th, 2013 elections.

He successfully won a second term as Deputy President after elections in August 2017. This visit will be his first to Uganda after the Kenya general elections held in 2017.

“H.E. William Ruto represents a generation of new youthful leaders across the continent who have a passion for young people’s well being. His rise to the office of Kenya’s Deputy President is a story worth sharing to inspire young people not only in Uganda, but Africa.” said Humphrey Nabimanya, The Team Leader & Founder of Reach A Hand Uganda.

The 2018 Young Achievers Awards are organized by Reach A Hand Uganda, a youth centered organization focusing on youth empowerment programs with an emphasis on Livelihoods & Skills Development, Behavior Change Communication, Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

The event will bring together over 100 young people in celebration of innovation, enterprise, achievement and leadership of young people.