Kampala – The National Unity Platform (NUP) has defended the legality of its School of Leadership, arguing that the institution is a political training organ protected by the Constitution, not a conventional school requiring registration under the Ministry of Education.
The standoff intensified yesterday when the school’s principal, Doreen Kaija, appeared before court on charges of running an unlicensed institution, contrary to Section 41(a) of the Education Act.
Prosecution alleges that the NUP School of Leadership is operating illegally since it is not registered or licensed by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
State attorneys contend that any institution providing training—formal or informal—falls under the Education Act and must seek clearance from the Ministry.
But NUP has dismissed the charges, insisting that its School of Leadership is not a public school but a political education center aimed at equipping members with party values, ideology, and leadership skills.
“This is not a public school as defined under the Education Act. It is a party organ established to empower our members ideologically,” said NUP lawyer George Musisi.
“Under the Political Parties and Organisations Act, every political party has the right to establish training institutions to instill its ideology and vision among members.”
Musisi further cited the 1995 Constitution to bolster NUP’s defense:
- Article 29(1)(e), which guarantees freedom of association, including the right to form and join political organizations;
- Article 38(2), which protects the right of every Ugandan to participate in the activities of political organizations and civic activities;
- Article 72(1), which allows political parties and organizations to exist and operate freely within the law.
According to Musisi, forcing political parties to seek approval from the Ministry of Education before conducting internal leadership training would amount to undermining their constitutional independence.
“Requiring political parties to seek approval from the Ministry of Education before conducting internal leadership training would amount to a violation of the Constitution, which guarantees their independence and right to organize,” he argued.
The state, however, maintains that the scope and structure of the NUP School of Leadership resemble an academic institution rather than a party organ, and therefore it cannot be exempt from regulation.
The case is expected to test the legal boundaries between the regulation of education and the autonomy of political parties in Uganda, where tensions between the state and opposition groups have remained high.