Parents of the first cohort of the National Unity Platform (NUP) School of Leadership students are in shock after their children returned home with certificates in civil disobedience and advocacy for gay rights, rather than the expected leadership certificates that they were promised while enlisting in the school.
The parents got their first surprise at the certificate awarding ceremony, held at their former headquarters in Kamwokya on Monday, November 4, 2024, when a group was called to demonstrate the skills they have obtained from the five-month-long course.
The group only displayed rioting tactics and how to confront security forces—nothing characteristic of a leader.
The unexpected buildup was followed by an address by NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, who emphasized the importance of defending marginalized communities and upholding human rights for all Ugandans, including “those many may not agree with, the LGBTQ people.”
He later handed over certificates to 103 students who had been undergoing training in his school, and this is where the real shock unfolded when parents present saw the certificates were reading, “This is to certify that [Student Name] has completed the course in civil disobedience and advocacy for social justice with a focus on community advocacy and the promotion of human rights, including LGBTQ rights.”
Namaganda Stella, a parent to one of the students, said that if she knew her son was going to be trained into immorality and criminality, she wouldn’t have allowed her to enroll in the school.
However, the graduates defended their school and certificates, saying that during their time at the school, they were told by gay rights activist Nicholas Opio, who came in as a guest facilitator, that bearing such a certificate would give them a leeway to obtain visas and jobs in western countries.
The NUP School of Leadership was founded earlier this year by Kyagulanyi and other party leaders to cultivate NUP values in the new generation of activists and leaders; however, the certificates that have been awarded have raised concern among the general public and calls for scrutiny into the school’s activities.
