The National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi, hosted the Minister of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, as Chief Guest at the graduation ceremony of 71 participants from the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) Cohort II.
The participants successfully completed a one-week intensive course in transformative leadership and ideological development, aimed at strengthening strategic thinking, national consciousness and socio-economic transformation capacity within Uganda’s corporate and public sectors.
While officially closing the training, Dr. Baryomunsi delivered a lecture of opportunity on the role of ICT and digital systems in financial sector development, underscoring the urgency of digital transformation in modern economies. He elaborated on key concepts including digitization and digital transformation, noting that these are no longer optional tools but central pillars for competitiveness, efficiency and inclusive growth.
The minister emphasized that robust digital systems are critical in improving financial services, widening access, enhancing transparency and accelerating national development outcomes. He urged participants to become champions of technology-driven solutions within their respective institutions.
Drawing from historical context, Dr. Baryomunsi noted that Africa endured nearly five centuries of disruption through the slave trade and exploitative external systems, which significantly distorted the continent’s development trajectory. He argued that the legacy of that disruption still manifests today through continued external interference in African affairs. “When colonial powers left Africa, they did not leave as satisfied actors,” he said. “That is why there are persistent attempts to influence internal dynamics on the continent in a bid to re-establish leverage and control.” He therefore called on leaders and professionals to anchor themselves in strong ideological grounding, patriotism and strategic clarity.
The minister urged participants to embrace the four ideological pillars of the NRM government as a framework for safeguarding national sovereignty and strengthening internal capacity against neo-colonial pressures.
Dr. Baryomunsi commended NALI for its sustained role in building a critical mass of ideologically grounded leaders across sectors, describing the institute as a cornerstone in Uganda’s leadership and value-based capacity development architecture.
The Director NALI, Col.Okei Rukogota while welcoming the Chief Guest said the training equips participants with practical leadership tools, ideological orientation and transformation-driven mindsets necessary to drive Uganda’s long-term socio-economic agenda.