First lady roots for patriotism among youth

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First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni, has urged the youth to embrace patriotism and devote their energy to developing the country.

She says there is a need for the youth to love their country, avoid being used by self-seekers and use their skills and potential to contribute to the country's socio-economic development.

The call is contained in the message delivered on her behalf by primary education state minister Joyce Moriku Kaducu during the passing out of 1,029 students of Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery. The students completed a one-week patriotism training on February 15, 2025.

"I have been told that you have learnt and accepted to love your country Uganda, all of us this is our country, to be patriotic is to love our country, this is the only country you have, if we do not love our country where else can we go? I cannot freely go to any other country to get citizenship because I belong to Uganda. So, it is right and fitting for all of you to let us love our country.  When I love myself, I love my country and when you love yourself you remain healthy to transform your Country, when you want to transform your country, you focus on positive things to transform your country,” she said.

Col. Justus Rukundo, the Commandant of Oliver Tambo School of Pan African Center of Excellence and Leadership speaking at the function before the pass out of the students. (Photo by Abaanabasazi)

The First Lady also challenged the youth to embrace the Government's wealth-creation programmes to ensure they move out of poverty.

She noted that President Yoweri Museveni has initiated several programmes such as Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation program and Parish Development Model to eradicate poverty and called on the youth to take advantage of these programs.

“So, I call upon you to support the vision of the president, especially to create wealth for the country, I commission you today, to be a change maker in wealth creation, we do not want to see poor people, our people are poor yes but the focus of our government is to eliminate poverty,” Mrs Museveni said.

She also highlighted a need to engage the youth in the fight against corruption, adding that corruption is an evil which has affected service delivery in the Country, especially health and education sector and said that there is a need for the young people, mostly students, to grow knowing the effect of corruption.

Chief trainer Lt. Col. Akasius Mpabaisi said during training, the students now known as patriots, had sessions on: Political ideological orientation, the political history of Uganda, career progression, financial literacy, the importance of having a transparent society, laws of social economic transformation, crime prevention, self-defence and occasionally had physical workouts.

He challenged the patriots to take advantage of the acquired knowledge to ensure they become responsible and patriotic.

He also warned them against living a reckless lifestyle, such as engaging in sexual immorality, and alcoholism that may expose their lives to HIV/AIDS and early pregnancy.

Hoima Resident City Commissioner Badru Mugabi commended the Government for promoting patriotism clubs in secondary schools saying that the initiative has reduced the strike in schools.

School principal Mark Kalanzi thanked the Patriotism Secretariat for the training and empowering the students with knowledge and skills that will help them survive in this competitive society.

Oliver Tambo School of Pan African Centre of Excellence and Leadership Kaweweta commandant Col. Justus Rukundo urged students to adopt effective patriotic methods of work and best practices in their endeavours.