By Our Staff Reporter

Kisubi, Uganda | September 16, 2026
Lt. Col. Frank Murema, Commander of 16 Service Brigade, has challenged students of St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) to embrace patriotism, discipline, productivity and personal responsibility as they prepare to take on leadership roles and contribute to Uganda’s development.

Lt. Col. Murema made the remarks while addressing students during a lecture on national power, where he highlighted the role and responsibilities of citizens in strengthening the country.

During the lecture, Lt. Col. Murema identified five key elements underpinning national power: diplomacy, information and intelligence, the military, the economy and the population.

He explained that strong diplomatic relations help promote international cooperation, while reliable information and intelligence support effective national decision-making.

He also noted that a professional and disciplined military is important for safeguarding national security.

According to Murema, a resilient economy provides the foundation for sustainable development, while an educated, disciplined and productive population remains one of Uganda’s important national assets.

Drawing lessons from Uganda’s development journey and comparing it with China’s experience, Lt. Col. Murema stressed the importance of education and skills development in preparing young people to participate meaningfully in the economy.

He particularly highlighted the Competence-Based Curriculum, saying it is intended to equip learners with practical skills, innovation, critical thinking and responsible citizenship.

Murema encouraged the students to take their education seriously and develop skills that can enable them to contribute to Uganda’s economic growth.

The commander urged the students to cultivate conscious discipline, personal responsibility and a strong work ethic.

He noted that government programmes and support can only achieve their intended objectives when citizens complement them through individual effort and commitment.

On patriotism, Murema encouraged the students to love, protect and contribute to their country regardless of the circumstances.

He also emphasised unity, brotherhood and integration as important foundations for national development.

Lt. Col. Murema encouraged the students to look beyond Uganda and view East Africa and Africa as a shared market.

He urged them to embrace production, entrepreneurship and innovation as pathways to individual and national prosperity.

“The future is in production,” Lt. Col. Murema told the students.

He challenged the learners to become productive, loyal and responsible citizens who can contribute positively to their communities and country.

Murema further urged the students to use their knowledge responsibly, reject hatred and destructive influences, and maintain strong moral values as they prepare for adulthood and future leadership responsibilities.

He also highlighted Uganda’s contribution to Pan-Africanism and its longstanding role in hosting refugees, linking unity and regional integration to the broader development of Africa.

The engagement concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session in which students actively participated and expressed appreciation for the lessons on patriotism, discipline, productivity and national responsibility.

The interaction formed part of the students’ exposure to discussions on national development, citizenship and the responsibilities of young people in shaping Uganda’s future.