By Lumpe Media
The Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, hosted retired United States Army Lieutenant General Michael Thomas Flynn for a dinner on Saturday evening at Serena Hotel Kigo, where the two leaders discussed strengthening relations and the role of education in shaping future leadership.
During the meeting, Gen Kainerugaba welcomed Lt Gen Flynn to Uganda and expressed appreciation for his visit, saying it marked the beginning of what he hopes will become a strong and productive partnership.
Kainerugaba recalled that while studying at Fort Leavenworth, he and his colleagues studied some of Flynn’s academic work, which made the visit particularly meaningful.
“We are honoured to host him here,” Kainerugaba said, adding that he believes their engagement could lead to an important and lasting relationship.
Much of the discussion, he noted, centered on the importance of education in shaping responsible citizens and future leaders. Kainerugaba stressed that young people should be taught to appreciate their country, respect national values, and develop strong moral character.
He also highlighted the possible role the military could play in strengthening education and leadership development among the youth. According to him, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces already operates several primary and secondary schools that follow the national curriculum set by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
However, he suggested that Uganda could draw lessons from the United States education model, particularly programs that integrate leadership and military training within schools.
Kainerugaba specifically pointed to the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, which prepares young people for leadership and potential military service while they are still in school.
“Perhaps we should consider how something similar could be introduced in our own system,” he said.
For his part, Lt Gen Flynn, who served in the U.S. military for more than three decades, emphasised the value of building strong and enduring relationships between individuals, institutions, and nations.
“The most important thing in life is developing relationships and ensuring they last over time,” Flynn said. “You should not wait for a crisis to start building them.”
Flynn also noted that Africa, and Uganda in particular, holds significant promise due to its youthful population and growing opportunities.
He stressed that strong institutions depend on preparing future leaders, particularly within the armed forces where discipline, training, education, and teamwork are emphasised.
“The generals will eventually step aside, so we must always be preparing the next generation of leaders,” he said.
Flynn added that Uganda’s young population could become a major driver of national progress if it is guided through proper education, leadership training, and discipline.
Several senior officials attended the dinner, including Uganda’s Ambassador to the United States Robie Kakonge, Joint Staff Human Resource Management James Kinalwa, Coordinator of National Vital Assets and Strategic Installations Moses Rwakitarate, and Chris Ddamulira, alongside other senior military officers.
