The Ugandan government has announced that all Senior Six leavers will undergo six months of mandatory patriotism training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi. This initiative aims to promote discipline, national identity, and civic responsibility among young people. The training is part of a renewed government effort to instill a sense of patriotism and civic duty in the country's youth. According to the Commissioner of the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC), Ms. Hellen Seku, the directive has received approval from President Yoweri Museveni and is set to commence this year.
The announcement was made during a pass-out ceremony at Immaculate Heart Girls' Secondary School Nyakibale in Rukungiri District. The event marked the completion of a week-long patriotism training programme for over 1,700 students from four local institutions. Ms. Seku revealed that the training will be mandatory for all Senior Six leavers, who will spend six months at NALI. She also stated that school patrons, coordinators, teachers, and head teachers who have not yet undergone patriotism training or have done so a long time ago will be required to undergo refresher courses.
The patriotism training program has been revived after a period of dormancy. Historically, the program brought together secondary school graduates and various public cohorts at NALI for ideological and civic orientation. According to Ms. Seku, the initiative is grounded in Article 17, Clause 2 of the Ugandan Constitution, which stipulates that every citizen has a duty to undergo patriotism training whenever facilities are provided by the government.
The scope of the program has expanded to include higher institutions of learning and youth in the informal sector. Recent training sessions have been organized for boda-boda operators at Kaweweta military training school, as well as returnees from South Africa. Ms. Seku emphasized that the goal is to provide every Ugandan with a dose of ideology, particularly at a time when the country needs an ideological direction.
Ms. Seku framed public service as a patriotic duty, urging medical students to handle patients with integrity and teachers to view their profession as a service to the nation. She expressed gratitude to the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for consistently deploying Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) instructors for the Secretariat's programs.
Local leaders and educators have reacted positively to the announcement. Gadgar Kibayo Arinitwe, the head teacher of Makobore High School, recalled attending a similar two-month training at Kyankwanzi after finishing Senior Six in 1993. He noted that the lessons acquired during the training continue to influence his outlook on life, particularly in handling weapons responsibly.
The mandatory patriotism training is set to begin this year, with all Senior Six leavers required to attend. The program aims to instill a sense of national identity, discipline, and civic responsibility among Uganda's youth. With the inclusion of refresher courses for educators and public officials, the initiative seeks to promote a culture of patriotism and public service across the country.
Key points
- The Ugandan government has mandated six months of patriotism training for Senior Six leavers at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.
- The training aims to promote discipline, national identity, and civic responsibility among young people.
- The program has been revived after a period of dormancy and has been expanded to include higher institutions of learning and youth in the informal sector.
