Celebrated cartoonist and activist Dr Spire Ssentongo has urged graduates of the second cohort of the National Unity Platform (NUP) School of Leadership to lead by example in their communities and become agents of positive change.
Speaking during the certificate awarding ceremony held at the NUP party headquarters in Makerere Kavule, Dr. Ssentongo congratulated the 149 graduates and emphasized their responsibility to put their acquired knowledge and values into practice.
“We are celebrating what we hope you have become. We want to see the difference through your actions; your actions should reflect what you have learned,” he stated.
Dr Ssentongo also addressed the importance of tolerance and respectful political discourse, especially among the youth and on social media platforms. He expressed concern about the increasing use of online abuse by some opposition supporters.
“I have often drawn cartoons of opposition members and, in response, faced insults for days. It makes me wonder, if some of these people were in power, what would they do? To our foot soldiers please learn to engage respectfully. Abusing others should never be your method of action,” he cautioned.
NUP party president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, also spoke at the event. He congratulated the graduates and encouraged other party members to take advantage of the available short leadership courses offered by the academy.
“I salute all of you who took the step to join this academy. The most powerful weapon in our struggle is education. Now go out and apply what you have learned to make Uganda a better place,” Kyagulanyi said.
Reflecting on the school’s journey, Kyagulanyi shared how it evolved from humble beginnings into a full-fledged leadership institution.
’’Years ago, our school of leadership was simply a meeting place for ghetto youth from all walks of life. Today, it has grown into a fully established institution,’’ Kyagulanyi revealed.
’’As graduates, remember that people will judge us based on your actions. So wherever you go, be a shining example. Show the world that we are People Power who are disciplined, organized, and ready to lead,” he added.
Kaija Doreen, the coordinator of the School of Leadership, revealed that the program attracted over 200 applications, submitted both online and in person. Of these, 170 candidates were admitted, and 149 successfully completed the course and graduated.
As Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections, several political parties, including NUP, are taking steps to build internal capacity and prepare members for future leadership roles through structured training programs like the School of Leadership.
