By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa, Umoja Standard.
APAC, LANGO: Commissioner Hellen Seku of the State House’s National Secretariat for Patriotism Corp, (NSPC) has stressed the importance of patriotism in shaping the lives of young Ugandans. Officiating at the Pass Out of 755 Students of Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, and Midwifery in Apac District, Seku observed the significance of patriotism training in instilling core national values and inspiring a mindset shift among commissioned Patriots.
According to Seku, patriotism is a powerful tool for combating ideological disorientation, which is common among the youth today. She cited Article 17(a) of Uganda’s 1995 Constitution which states, ‘it is a duty for every citizen to be patriotic and loyal and to promote Uganda’s well-being including undergoing patriotism training. Seku affirmed that patriotism teaches valuable skills such as teamwork, resilience, and hard work, which are essential for national development.
Seku shared a personal experience about visiting a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she witnessed corruption firsthand. She recounted how a nurse refused to attend to patients, citing the end of her shift, while another nurse selflessly provided care. Seku attributed the latter’s actions to patriotism and encouraged the students to emulate her.
The commissioner also emphasized the importance of learning Swahili, Uganda’s second official language, to enhance communication and job opportunities within the East African community. She urged the students to be role models in their communities, respect themselves and others, and live by the ethics and regulations of their profession.
Seku reminded the students of their constitutional mandate to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming general elections. She encouraged them to make informed decisions and vote for the right leaders. Seku also thanked the management and staff of Florence Nightingale School of Nursing for their good work and pledged to provide ongoing support to the patriotism club.
She emphasized that patriotism is not just a concept, but a way of life that requires dedication and hard work. Seku urged the students to remain committed to their values and principles, and to become role models in their communities.
She urged students to be proactive and take ownership of their lives. She emphasized that the future of Uganda depends on the actions of its young people and encouraged them to be patriotic and responsible citizens. With a call to action, Seku reminded the students that they have the power to shape the future of their country and urged them to use their skills and knowledge to make a positive impact.
“The coordinators, the regional coordinators, the RDC, deputy RDC and assistant RDC, APAC District, you have made patriotism be felt in this land of Lango. Training 4,411 patriots is not something simple. I commend you for that, congratulations and please keep patriotism shining,” said Hellen Seku.
Seku’s efforts in promoting patriotism have caught attention of President Yoweri Museveni, who commended her for her outstanding work in nurturing patriotism among Ugandans. Under her leadership, over 200,000 Ugandans have graduated from patriotic training programs, and close to 450,000 youths have benefited from different patriotic courses and related mobilization programs.
