Retired Michael Thomas Flynn, a former United States Army Lieutenant General, has delivered a lecture on leadership to senior officers of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) at the Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo in Kampala.
The lecture brought together commandants from the National Defence College – Uganda, the Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka, directing staff, and members of the Joint Staff Headquarters of the UPDF.
During his presentation, Lt Gen Flynn emphasised that effective leadership goes beyond authority and rank, noting that true leadership is grounded in character, courage, strategic vision, and the ability to inspire others toward a common purpose.
Lt Gen Flynn has been in Uganda over the past few days, during which he held key engagements with Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Speaking on behalf of the officers, the Commandant of the National Defence College – Uganda, Brig Gen Alex Olupot, thanked Lt Gen Flynn for sharing insights drawn from his distinguished military career in the United States Armed Forces.
“These lessons resonate deeply with us as officers entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding our nation and also contributing to regional and international peace and stability,” Brig Gen Olupot said.
He added that the lecture reinforced values such as patriotism, Pan-Africanism, and international cooperation, which remain central to the ideological outlook of UPDF officers.
Lt Gen Flynn’s military career spans more than three decades, during which he held senior intelligence and command positions in the US Army, including serving as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2012 to 2014.
He later served as National Security Adviser under US President Donald Trump.