All Senior Six school leavers in Uganda will undergo patriotism training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi under a renewed government programme aimed at promoting patriotism, discipline, national identity and civic responsibility among young people.
Hellen Seku, Commissioner of the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC), said the programme will begin this year, with Senior Six school leavers expected to spend about six months at Kyankwanzi.
Seku made the announcement at Immaculate Heart Girls’ Secondary School Nyakibale in Rukungiri District, where more than 1,700 students from four institutions completed a week-long patriotism training programme.
“I can assure you, head teacher, we are going to begin this year. So, this year we agreed with Jaaja (President Museveni) that all Senior Six vacists are going to Kyankwanzi. You’re going to go for about six months,” Seku said.
She said patrons and coordinators of patriotism programmes, as well as teachers and head teachers who have not undergone the training, would also be required to undertake refresher courses.
“All patrons and coordinators are going to do a refresher course, including teachers and head teachers who have not yet trained, even those who have taken long. We want everybody to undergo the training,” she said.
The announcement signals a revival and expansion of the Kyankwanzi-based programme, which has previously brought students and other groups of Ugandans together for ideological and patriotism training.
Gadgar Kibayo Arinitwe, head teacher of Makobore High School, recalled attending a similar programme at Kyankwanzi in 1993 after completing Senior Six.
“We were at Kyankwanzi for two months, but I must confess that the values we acquired then have kept shaping our outlook on life,” Kibayo said.
He recalled being taught what he described as the “10 Commandments of a gun”, including a prohibition against taking alcohol while carrying a rifle.
The students who completed the latest programme were drawn from Immaculate Heart Girls’ Secondary School Nyakibale, Karoli Lwanga Institute of Health Sciences, Kinyasano Girls’ High School and Makobore High School.
The programme included ideology sessions, early morning drills and parades.
Seku said the NSPC was also expanding its programmes to higher institutions of learning and young people working in the informal sector.
“That’s what we are doing here, and we want to thank His Excellency once again, for he has now given us the mandate to go to higher institutions, to go to all the youth in the informal sector,” she said.
She cited the training of boda boda riders at Kaweweta and Ugandans returning from South Africa as examples of the expanded programme.
“So, we want every Ugandan to get a dose of ideology. This is the time when this country needs an ideological direction for everybody,” Seku said.
She also thanked UPDF Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for providing instructors to support the programme when requested.
Seku cites constitutional responsibility
Seku told the students that patriotism was a responsibility for all Ugandans, citing Article 17 of the Constitution.
“Patriotism is a calling for all Ugandans. When you read our Constitution, Article 17, Clause 2, says every Ugandan shall undergo patriotism training, and the Government shall ensure that such facilities are provided,” she said.
She urged the students to work hard, maintain discipline and prepare themselves for employment and national service.
She also urged health workers and teachers to view their professions as forms of patriotic service.
Addressing nurses and medical students, Seku said healthcare workers should combine professional competence with good treatment of patients.
“You shouldn’t only be doctors and nurses of diseases, but even ideology. Handle clients very well,” she said.
“Teaching is a patriotic calling,” she added.
Students cite discipline and resilience
In a memorandum presented on behalf of the participating students by Mercy Okuyangabire, Speaker of the Students’ Council at Immaculate Heart Girls’ School Nyakibale, the students said the programme had improved their understanding of responsibility, discipline and patriotism.
Okuyangabire said bringing together students from different institutions enabled them to build friendships, exchange experiences and reflect on their role in Uganda’s development.
She said the programme included practical sessions, mentorship, ideological discussions, drills and interactions with facilitators.
The students also highlighted the use of Kiswahili during parades and army songs as one of the notable features of the training.
“Initially, Kiswahili would stop in classes, but now we get to use the Kiswahili language out of class, and it has helped us to understand very well,” Okuyangabire said.
The students said they were also taught about Uganda’s history, survival skills, resilience and perseverance.
They said early morning drills, including those conducted in difficult weather conditions, helped them develop physical and mental fitness.
The programme also covered environmental protection, entrepreneurship and integrity.
“We were sensitised on environmental protection and preservation. We were guided on being job creators, not just job seekers. We also learned about living lives of integrity, doing the right thing even when no one is watching,” Okuyangabire said.
Other areas covered included security and ideological patriotism, national identity, discipline, HIV/AIDS awareness, transformative discipline, Pan-Africanism, political history, citizenship under Article 9 and patriotism cooperatives.
The training was facilitated by senior UPDF officers, including Brig Gen Justus Rukundo, professional lecturers and NSPC coordinators under State House.
Capt Richard Owaruhanga, Assistant Commissioner in charge of training, was among the NSPC officials involved in the programme.
The Regional Coordinator for Patriotism in Kigezi, Richard Ndyamuhaki, challenged the students to demonstrate the values acquired during the training in their families and communities.
“What I expect from the participants is that, from what you have undergone, we should see a positive change in your families, in your community, in society, and also in Uganda in general,” he said.
Teachers welcome expanded training
The head teacher of Immaculate Heart Girls’ School Nyakibale, Sr Tumusiime Sabino, welcomed the programme, saying it could help learners develop a sense of national responsibility and prepare them to confront challenges such as unemployment.
She also welcomed the decision to bring students from different institutions together for joint training.
Monica Kobusingye, Deputy Principal of Karoli Lwanga Institute of Health Sciences, called for the programme to be extended to more students and institutions.
She described the training as a step towards nurturing responsible citizenship and urged students to uphold integrity, discipline and unity.
“A person who holds integrity will not destroy their nation. So, we expect integrity from our health workers,” Kobusingye said.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Rukungiri, Wilberforce Ongom Ahimbisibwe, who participated as a facilitator, also emphasised discipline, saying academic qualifications alone were insufficient without good character and respect.
He urged the students to reject corruption and bribery, which he said undermine public service delivery.
“As young patriots, make sure you desist from corruption,” Ongom said.
He also encouraged students to participate in environmental protection and discourage the use and cultivation of wetlands.
“As a patriot, go and tell your parents that using a wetland is wrong,” he said.
The students said they would apply the lessons acquired during the training in their schools, families and communities.
