KAMPALA, Uganda — Pastor Robert Burale challenged Rotary leaders to embrace an internal drive for societal change during his keynote address at the DISCON 101 conference held at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort.
Vice President Jessica Alupo attended the event, which brought together Rotarians from across Africa to discuss leadership and institutional growth.
Burale framed effective leadership as a “divine disturbance,” describing it as an inner voice that refuses to accept complacency or systemic gaps. He argued that legacy is not a matter of administrative skill but is built through conviction and psychological readiness.
“There has to be a disturbance within,” Burale said. “An inner drive, an inner voice that tells you that you must make things right in society.”
The remarks come as African civic institutions face increasing pressure to provide structural impact for a rapidly growing population. Rotary Africa has set a goal to reach 70,000 members by 2028, a milestone Burale said requires leaders to look beyond routine tasks and focus on long-term institutional design.
Burale urged attendees to seek out like-minded partners to ensure organizational resilience and to remain steadfast despite criticism.
“Legacy is felt when you are gone, but built while alive,” he said.
The conference highlighted a shifting expectation for African leadership, emphasizing that sustainable systems must be established to endure beyond the tenure of individual leaders. Burale concluded by noting that the ultimate measure of success for civic leadership is measurable transformation within society.
