As the world prepares to mark Mandela Day this Friday, July 18, a powerful call for servant leadership has echoed from Kampala, where South Africa’s ambassador to Uganda challenged African leaders to put service before self-interest.

Speaking at a press briefing ahead of this year’s commemorations, Ambassador Solly Sebola delivered a blunt message: true leadership means serving others, not enriching oneself. His words cut to the heart of a struggle that Nelson Mandela himself fought, a struggle that remains urgent across Africa today.

“When Mandela picked up arms to fight, that was a calling,” Sebola said. “But today, it’s more about what in South Africa we call the politics of the stomach. Until and unless that vice is corrected, the whole of humanity is doomed.”

The ambassador’s remarks come at a time when many African nations grapple with corruption, inequality, and leaders who cling to power while their people struggle. Sebola insisted that Mandela’s legacy offers a different path—one built on justice, equality, and compassion.

“What you need are servants of the people—people who care about others,” he said. “And this is what Mandela went out to do.”

This year’s Mandela Day events in Uganda will center on the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped in Mengo, an institution that has supported children with disabilities for 56 years. The choice reflects the day’s theme of inclusive service and community development—values Mandela championed throughout his life.

Bugingo Don Patrick, a Mandela Washington Fellow and lead organizer of the Ugandan commemorations, explained why the school was selected. “Our obligation is to ensure we remember the great legacy of Nelson Mandela in leadership, service, and sacrifice,” he said.

After speaking with the school’s management, Bugingo and his team learned about the challenges students face—from crumbling infrastructure to a lack of learning materials. The alumni network of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, a U.S. exchange program for young African leaders, quickly mobilized partners to help.

“We’re already seeing commitments from various stakeholders,” Bugingo said, outlining plans to refurbish the school and provide essential supplies.

For Joy Mwesigwa, the school’s director, the involvement of the Mandela Fellows has been transformative. She praised their ability to amplify the needs of children with disabilities in ways the school could not do alone.

“The Mandela Fellows have done the best you can do, which is advocacy,” Mwesigwa said. “They’ve reached organizations and people we could not access.”

Thanks to their efforts, support has already started flowing in. Businessman Omar Mandela of Café Javas, for example, has pledged to help renovate the school’s entrance, making it more accessible for students with mobility challenges.

“This is justice to the disability movement,” Mwesigwa said.

The campaign has also drawn support from Uganda’s cultural leaders. The Nnaabagereka of Buganda, Queen Sylvia Nagginda, publicly endorsed the initiative, calling on others to join the effort.

“Today, I am proud to stand once again with the school—this time in support of the renovation campaign led by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Network of Uganda,” she said. “I invite each of you to join me in making this school more accessible, empowering, and dignified for every learner.”

Mandela Day, established by the United Nations in 2009, is celebrated every July 18—the birthday of South Africa’s first Black president. The day encourages people worldwide to spend at least 67 minutes doing community service, symbolizing the 67 years Mandela dedicated to fighting for justice and human rights.

This year marks the 16th Mandela Day, and in Uganda, the focus on disability inclusion is a fitting tribute to a man who believed in leaving no one behind.

As Ambassador Sebola reminded leaders, Mandela’s true legacy is not just in the history books—it’s in the daily choice to serve others. “If we want Africa to move forward,” he said, “we need leaders who see power as a responsibility, not a reward.”

With these words ringing loud, this year’s Mandela Day is more than a commemoration—it’s a challenge. A challenge to leaders to do better. A challenge to citizens to demand better. And a challenge to all of us to ask: How will we spend our 67 minutes?