By Our Staff Reporter

RUKUNGIRI, UGANDA — October 3, 2026
All Senior Six students completing their final examinations in Uganda are set to undergo a six-month patriotism training programme at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC) has announced.

The programme is aimed at promoting patriotism, discipline, national identity, responsibility and good values among young Ugandans.

NSPC Commissioner Hellen Seku announced the new programme during a ceremony at Immaculate Heart Girls’ Secondary School Nyakibale in Rukungiri District, where more than 1,700 students from four institutions completed a week-long patriotism training.

Seku said the Senior Six vacists will begin the training this year, following an agreement with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

“We are going to begin this year. All Senior Six vacists are going to Kyankwanzi. You are going to go for about six months,” she said.

She added that teachers, head teachers, patrons and coordinators who have not undergone patriotism training will also be required to attend refresher courses.

The government has also expanded the patriotism programme beyond secondary schools to include students in higher institutions of learning and young people working in the informal sector.

Seku said the programme is intended to give Ugandans a better understanding of the country’s history, national identity, responsibility and ideological direction.

The students who completed the training in Rukungiri were drawn from Immaculate Heart Girls’ Secondary School Nyakibale, Karoli Lwanga Institute of Health Sciences, Kinyasano Girls’ High School and Makobore High School.

During the one-week programme, the students participated in ideological sessions, early morning drills, parades, mentorship and practical activities.

The training covered areas including patriotism, national identity, discipline, political history, Pan-Africanism, security, HIV/AIDS awareness, environmental protection, entrepreneurship and integrity.

Students also learned about Uganda’s history, survival skills, resilience and the importance of becoming job creators rather than relying solely on employment.

Mercy Okuyangabire, Speaker of the Students’ Council at Immaculate Heart Girls’ School Nyakibale, said the programme helped students develop discipline, responsibility and a stronger sense of patriotism.

She said the interaction between students from different institutions also gave them an opportunity to make new friends and share experiences.

The students also highlighted the use of Kiswahili during parades and army songs, saying it helped them become more familiar with the language outside the classroom.

Seku urged the students to maintain discipline and work hard as they prepare to join higher education, employment and other areas of national life.

She said patriotism should not be limited to military service but should be demonstrated through responsible work and service to society.

She particularly encouraged health workers and teachers to view their professions as forms of patriotic service.

“Teaching is a patriotic calling,” she said, while urging health workers to treat patients with respect and integrity.

She also said the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps had been given a wider mandate to reach young people in informal employment, including boda boda riders, as well as Ugandans returning from abroad.

Teachers support the programme

The head teacher of Immaculate Heart Girls’ School Nyakibale, Sr Tumusiime Sabino, welcomed the patriotism programme, saying it would help young people develop love for their country and prepare them to deal with challenges such as unemployment.

Monica Kobusingye, Deputy Principal of Karoli Lwanga Institute of Health Sciences, called for the programme to be extended to more institutions.

She said integrity and discipline were particularly important among health workers because their conduct directly affects the quality of services delivered to patients.

The Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Rukungiri, Wilberforce Ongom Ahimbisibwe, also urged the students to reject corruption and bribery.

He said academic qualifications alone were not enough to guarantee success without discipline, respect and good character.

He further encouraged the students to participate in environmental protection and discourage activities that damage wetlands.

Former trainees recall Kyankwanzi experience

Gadgar Kibayo Arinitwe, Head Teacher of Makobore High School, recalled undergoing a similar patriotism programme at Kyankwanzi in 1993 after completing Senior Six.

He said the lessons he acquired during the programme continued to influence his life many years later.

The current programme is therefore expected to revive the practice of taking school leavers through patriotism and ideological training before they proceed to the next stage of their lives.

The students were urged to put the lessons acquired during the training into practice at home, in their schools and communities.

Richard Ndyamuhaki, Regional Coordinator for Patriotism in Kigezi, challenged the participants to demonstrate love, unity, discipline and service in their daily lives.

The training was facilitated by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers, professional lecturers and NSPC coordinators, including Brig. Gen. Justus Rukundo and Capt. Richard Owaruhanga, Assistant Commissioner in charge of training.