Spiritual Formation-Driven Transformational Leadership: Empowering Leaders for Ethical Political Engagement in Africa

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https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.11.1.2026.532
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Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research

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Susan Kemigisha
Africa International University

Abstract

In the heart of Africa, Uganda, located in East Africa and bordered by South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, grapples with leadership challenges that echo across the continent. This project explores how spiritual formation, rooted in Ephesians’ teachings on leadership (Eph. 4:11-16), can catalyze transformational leadership among political leaders in Uganda. This qualitative study explores how spiritual formation-driven transformational leadership can empower Ugandan leaders for ethical political engagement. Employing Afro-centric Transformational inquiry and purposive sampling,15 national leaders and faith-based organisations participated in in-depth interviews, revealing that spiritual practices like prayer and reflection inform leaders’ decisions emphasizing ubuntu principles (“I am because we are”). Key findings include that spiritual formation shapes leaders ‘values and behaviours, transformational leadership prioritizes people-centred decision making, and Ubuntu principles and Christian values inform a contextually relevant leadership model. The study’s implications highlight the need for leadership development programs to integrate spiritual formation, Afro-centric Transformational inquiry, and Ubuntu values, fostering a culture of accountability and collective responsibility. Church-state partnerships can promote ethical governance, while policy initiatives prioritize spiritual formation and Ubuntu principles to promote transparency and people-centred governance.

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How to Cite
Spiritual Formation-Driven Transformational Leadership: Empowering Leaders for Ethical Political Engagement in Africa. (2026). African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research, 11(1), 214-233. https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.11.1.2026.532

How to Cite

Spiritual Formation-Driven Transformational Leadership: Empowering Leaders for Ethical Political Engagement in Africa. (2026). African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research, 11(1), 214-233. https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.11.1.2026.532

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