Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) successfully hosted the third edition of the Billi Now Now (BNN) Summit, a flagship annual event under the Billi Now Now movement, aimed at empowering youth across Africa and beyond.
The two-day summit took place on 10th and 11th July 2025 at the Reach A Hand headquarters in Lungujja, under the powerful theme: “Our Voices. Our Power. Our Future.” The event was organised in partnership with GN Trybe.
The Billi Now Now (BNN) movement is a bold, youth-led initiative that empowers over 1 billion BRAVE young people, known as B!LL!s, to take charge of their lives, health, and future. Supporting this mission is GN Trybe, a youth-focused behavioural change communication platform that tackles the pressing challenges young people face today.
Through creative and innovative strategies, GN Trybe raises awareness on key issues while reducing Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) risks — barriers that often stand in the way of quality education, mental well-being, and a healthy, empowered life.
The 2025 summit brought together more than 300 youth delegates from countries including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Benin, Peru, and Burkina Faso. Together, they engaged in vibrant discussions about reclaiming Africa’s identity and using the power of youth voices to drive transformative change.
Key themes addressed at the summit included:
Economic empowerment
The role of media in shaping youth narratives
Healthy relationships and safeguarding
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence
Youth engagement in civic spaces
A major highlight of the summit was the unveiling of the inaugural Impact Forge cohort, a new programme under RAHU’s broader youth empowerment efforts. The initiative supports youth-led and youth-founded organisations with a full year of mentorship, capacity building, and access to vital resources. The first cohort comprises 15 young innovators from diverse sectors, including agriculture, climate action, education, youth livelihoods, and social behavioural change.
During the summit, Humphrey Nabimanya, CEO of Reach A Hand Uganda, lauded the movement’s influence:
“Billi Now Now has produced a generation of changemakers who are now advocating for the youth of today and tomorrow.”
Mariam Nalukuma, Head of Corporate Affairs at the Insurance Regulatory Authority, spoke on economic empowerment through financial literacy:
“One of Africa’s biggest challenges is youth unemployment. Today, financial literacy is a crucial skill for building resilience. Insurance is one of the most accessible tools for financial protection — even those without formal jobs can benefit from affordable insurance options to safeguard their futures.”
Dr Ruth Grace Kakoba, a gynaecologist and content creator, addressed the double-edged power of media. She raised concerns about emerging social media trends like the hashtag #TeenMom, which glamorise teenage pregnancy:
“These trends often ignore the real health risks and long-term consequences young mothers face. Media should educate, not mislead. Unchecked, such content can normalise dangerous behaviours.”
Adding a powerful perspective on gender, Herbert Mugumya, Chief of Staff at the International Rescue Committee, challenged traditional perceptions of masculinity:
“Manhood is not defined by dominance or wealth, but by emotional maturity and responsibility.”
He criticised outdated beliefs that discourage men from showing emotion, such as the notion that a man should never cry:
“True strength is found in vulnerability, compassion, and accountability — not in repression or control.”
As the Billi Now Now Summit concluded, the energy was electric, and the message was clear: the future belongs to the youth — and they’re ready to lead it.
