Kenyan-raised Paul Nantulya has 24 years of experience on African peace and security issues in East and Southern Africa and the U.S. government. His career took him to over 20 African countries working with civil society, governments, peacekeepers, and NGOs.

At high school, Nantulya was heavily influenced by the teachings of Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo, in particular the Trial of Dedan Kimathi which he studied as an examinable text. He was active in student leadership, pro-democracy work, and liberation movements at University and joined various Pan Africanist causes, including serving for a while as Information Secretary of the Pan African Youth Movement.