Ugandans can’t sing national anthem

Jun 08, 2010

AS Ugandans celebrate Heroes’ Day today, many would not pass the patriotism test if singing the National Anthem and identification of national symbols is anything to go by.

By Arthur Baguma
and Frederick Womakuyu


AS Ugandans celebrate Heroes’ Day today, many would not pass the patriotism test if singing the National Anthem and identification of national symbols is anything to go by.

A New Vision survey in Kampala has discovered that only 15% of the 300 respondents could sing the three stanzas of the anthem and only 28% could identify the correct national flag and the Court of Arms.

The survey respondents were asked to sing the anthem in full and to identify the correct flag and the Court of Arms from a set of samples (See page 18). The respondents were randomly selected from all educational levels and professions.

Twenty-eight percent were female. Among them were Members of Parliament, local councillors, UPDF officers and teachers.

All but four parliamentarians contacted declined to participate in the survey, saying they were busy. This could have been an indication of lack of confidence.
The analysis showed that older people (41–50 years) could sing all the three stanzas of the anthem compared to the 18–30-age group.

There was also a strong correlation between ability to sing the anthem and identify the symbols and educational level of the respondents.

Ethics and integrity minister Dr. James Nsaba Buturo said most Ugandans do not know the national symbols because they tend to identify more with their ethnic groupings than the country.

“There is no national unity and that is why there is a culture of impunity seen in people rioting and destroying property,” Buturo said.

Kabakumba Matsiko, the information and national guidance minister, called for a deliberate government policy for schools and institutions of higher learning to teach and sing the three stanzas of the national anthem.

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