KYANKWANZI — Geostrategy, territorial integrity, and environmental stewardship took center stage today as Brig Gen Justus Rukundo delivered an insightful lecture to participants of the UWA 04/26 intake at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi.
The high-level session brought together 47 senior leaders of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) currently undertaking an intensive 3-week Leadership and Transformative Development Course alongside NALI staff members. Opening his remarks, Brig Gen Rukundo expressed his long awaited enthusiasm to meet the UWA team, having missed out on interacting with the previous intake last month due to other pressing military duties. He warmly appreciated the UWA Executive Director, Dr. James Musinguzi, for championing the initiative to have all UWA staff undergo national transformative training.
Bridging the gap between national defense and conservation, he explained how ecological security forms a vital pillar of Uganda’s wider geostrategic framework. Stressing the fundamental connection between state defense and preservation, he remarked, “You cannot talk about National interest’s values and principles without strengthening National Security.”
Throughout the session, the core takeaways centered on embedding national values, examining how transboundary conservation ecosystems and porous borders intersect with state sovereignty, and urging the cohort to leverage ideological clarity and Pan-African principles in managing public assets. By highlighting the powerful institutional synergy between NALI and specialized agencies like UWA, the lecture successfully reinforced how a unified commitment to national values equips conservation leaders to effectively tackle contemporary governance and security challenges.
As participants progress through their transformative development journey at Kyankwanzi, the session drew to a formal close as Mr. Isabirye Richard delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, expressing profound gratitude to Brig Gen Rukundo for his eye opening and deeply insightful lecture. Initiatives like this continue to empower Uganda’s conservation leaders with the strategic foresight necessary to protect both our wildlife and our nation’s long-term future.
