Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and his main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) have registered yet another milestone: launching a leadership school, the National Unity Platform School of Leadership.
After buying land in Makerere-Kavule where they build their headquarters, the leaders of NUP party – a move that surprised both the ruling NRM government officials and the opposition parties, which had written them off – the party promised to turn their former HQ at Kamwokya into a leadership school.
And on June 10, Bobi Wine officiated at the launch of the NUP Leadership School.
At the launch, Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the school was proof that “when NUP promises, it delivers.”
Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) and Party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi emphasized the need to go “beyond merely being professionals,” adding that “it is a mistake to think you know it all” because “for as long as you’re part of what we are doing, we shall be learning and unlearning.”
NUP President Bobi Wine said the school was meant to train “a sober generation that cannot be fooled anymore” and people that will not “just want to remove the dictator” but also “want to reform all the rotten systems in our country.”
He added: “With this knowledge, you’ll be able to interrogate the budget process, the taxation policies, and so forth. You are stakeholders in this country, not just spectators. We want you to know your constitutional rights and civic duties. We don’t.”
WHAT ELSE DID BOBI WINE SAY?
This institution is not just a school; it is a beacon of hope, a forge where the mettle of our current and future leaders will be tested, shaped and refined.
We want to equip our leaders with the skills and competences necessary to help them navigate the murky waters of regime change and guide our nation through the inevitable transition that awaits once dictator Museveni falls.
We want to nurture them, enhance their decision-making skills, and to imbue them with the clarity of our mission so they can pass it on with conviction and eloquence.
Remember comrades: we are in a country whose political landscape evolves by the day. As such, I can not overstate our urgent need for adept, articulate, and visionary leaders.
As the National Unity Platform, we recognize this urgency and are committed to nurturing a new breed of leaders who are not only politically conscious but also literate in the art of governance and public service.
Our leadership school opens its doors at a pivotal moment in our history. Despite helping, for years, our young learners to appreciate Uganda’s political history and the dynamics that shaped the country we currently call home, the Museveni regime recently scrapped it off our national curriculum. Opening this school is our humble contribution towards filling the void left and ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to learn, to lead, and to contribute to the democratic process.
Our path to a brighter, New Uganda must be paved pavedwith the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability. It is our hope that the leaders from this school will be the standard-bearers of these values.
We need leaders who will not only resist the temptations of power but also actively work to dismantle the structures that enable them. As such, the students at this school shall be trained to shun the corruption, abuse of office, and other malpractices that have for far too long plagued our political landscape.
Of course, we are aware of the challenges that lie ahead. Our young leaders brim with potential but they have yet to harness their full capabilities.
By subjecting them to rigorous training in communication, strategy, and policy formulation, we will empower them to realise their potential. We will empower them to articulate the vision of the National Unity Platform and bring about the regime change that our country so desperately needs.
So let us not be deterred by the obstacles placed before us. The attempts to stifle civic consciousness in Uganda and mass participation in politics should only fuel our determination. We have the duty and right to ensure that every Ugandan is equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to participate actively in our democracy.
It is my sincere hope that this school will be the forge from which emerges a new generation of leaders — leaders who are not only equipped to bring about change but are also the embodiment of the change we seek. Leaders who will not only dream of a Uganda free from the shackles of dictatorship but will also be the architects of its liberation.
As we open this School, I call upon each one of you to embrace the spirit of leadership and political consciousness.
Whether you are a current or prospective leader within our party, or a citizen with a passion for public service, this school shall be your gateway to making a meaningful impact on our nation’s future.
That is why I stand before you filled with hope: Hope for the leaders who will emerge from this school. Hope for the future they will help build. And hope for a Uganda that will flourish under their guidance.
Together, we will rise to the occasion and build a Uganda that is not only united but also strong, just, and prosperous.
LEVELS & THE MODULES
But what exactly will the National Unity Platform School of Leadership teach? SG Rubogonya explained that there will be three categories of students. Level One category will have students drawn from the informal sector. Students from this category are those who “have not had formal education but are part of our struggle.”
Students under this category will learn “the history of Uganda and other basic leadership skills.”
The second category will comprise professionals in the struggle. Dr Moses Kanaabi will teach this class.
Category 3 will comprise elected leaders. NUP Deputy President Dr Lina Zedriga will teach this class.
Classes began on June 10. NUP treasurer Benjamin Katana taught category one from informal sector; Dr Kanaabi taught professionals while Dr Zedriga taught elected leaders.
Rubongoya further listed the modules to be taught each academic year as: NUP party ideology, political history of Uganda, strategic planning, introduction to modern economics, introduction to human rights, communication skills and the art of political communication.
Other modules are: principles and institutions of political leadership, strategies for political change, local government administrative framework in Uganda, elections in Uganda (legal framework), conflict resolution in politics, as well as balancing the struggle, work, and family.
Eclipsing the FDC in the 2021 elections to become the main opposition party, NUP is soldiering on amidst challenges, including a corruption scandal by its immediate former leader of opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga who has refused to leave his commissioner job despite being ‘fired’ by party. Mpuuga has also refused to leave the party. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
A censure motion to impeach him has so far gathered 145 of the required 177 signatures to have a notice of the same presented in the House. (See List of MPs who have signed the Mpuuga censure motion Here.
(For advertising, sponsored content or story tips, send us a Whatsapp message on +256 705 690 819 or E-mail us on pearltimesug@gmail.com).
