The Vice President Retired Major Jessica Alupo planting a tree at Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Excellence in Kaweweta Nakaseke District as Patriotism Commissioner Hellen Seku and Commandant Julius Rukundo look on.
President of Uganda His Excellency General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has asked Patriotism Coordinators to maintain a healthy life style by abstaining from reckless habits like sexual promiscuity, alcoholism, substance abuse among others.
According to Museveni, taking care of yourself by maintaining a healthy life style helps one to develop full potential in order to make a meaningful contribution to the country .
He explained that such reckless habits are also harmful and they can ruin lives.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday while Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Excellence in Kaweweta Nakaseke District for the pass out of 170 National Patriotism Regional Cities, District Coordinators and Staff from the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps who have been undergoing retreat. This was in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy President Her Excellency Retired Major Jessica Alupo.
The group of Coordinators comprised of Head teachers, Deputy Head teachers and teachers from different schools both Government and privately owned.
Commissioner for Patriotism Ms Hellen Seku and the Vice President Alupo from while Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Excellence hall.
Museveni said that the training is aimed at exposing leaders to the core values and principles of revolutionary governance. He emphasized that it it’s important because it teaches you to prioritize your country above self and putting national interests before the sectarian interests of one’s tribe, religions and regions among others.
He said that Patriotism is one of the core principles of the National Resistance Movement and said they must love Uganda, protect the environment adding that loving Uganda means loving all Ugandans regardless of their tribes , religion, region or gender .
Prior to presenting the speech of the President, Her Excellency Alupo gave a lecture of opportunity to the participants and asked them to value interests of Africans as a brother and a sister saying that President Museveni is the champion of both economic and political integration in Africa.
She said before the transformation takes place, there must be peace and security and President Museveni is aware that Uganda must continue being free of chaos and insecurity adding that the northern region, West and Karamoja are now liberated.
The Vice President Alupo arriving at Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Excellence on Wednesday
She asked them to remain agents of change as teachers by being active , self-driven and having positive interactions and further to call upon communities to exercise responsible Democracy with dignity, protecting people’s interests and considering Uganda first to avoid foreign values which Uganda is not keen to.
The Vice President indicated that they are very proud of the UPDF adding that the Commissioner National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps ,Ms Hellen Seku has been very active in ideological training. She said she has interfaced with Seku in areas of income generation during the mobilization tours called by the President Museveni.
She commended Ms Seku for shifting trainings from Kyankwanzi to Kaweweta saying that this shows her good relationship with the forces and versatility to work with other people.
She concluded by asking them to support government on sensitization areas such that after two years from now, they are able to stand in front of people to seek re-election.
The Vice President shaking hands of Major Emoit one of the Instructors of Patriotism.
On her part, the Commissioner National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps ,Ms Seku said that the coordinators were appointed by the President in 2009 but they had not gotten an opportunity to do a retreat despite serving diligently for 13 years and also having been handy during the previous elections.
As such, Ms Seku said that she found it fit to bring them to Kaweweta for the staff in her office to bond with the coordinators and also to remind them of the mission of patriotism.
She further revealed that the President realized that the speed at which the management team was moving at the Secretariat did not match the increasing demand and in his wisdom decided to overhaul the Secretariat and appointed a brand new team of young people who can match up the fast pace of the dotcom generation.
Group Photo of the Vice President with staff of NSPC and Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Excellence.
She said it was on this basis that she was appointed and officially assumed office in January 2024 and that one of the immediate assignments she had to take up was to build synergy between the new team at Secretariat and the team of Coordinators scattered all over the country and that formed the basis for this retreat.
Ms Seku thanked the team of knowledgeable facilitators like Col. Justus Rukundo, Maj. Sam Emoit, Capt. Charles Mukuye and the external facilitators such as Hon. Maj. Gen. Henry Masiko, Prof. Wasswa Balunywa, Prof. Murindwa Rutanga, Tony Owana, Minister for Presidency Hon Milly Babalanda and not the Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister who lectured the coordinators on different topics.
Some of the officials from the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps at Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Excellence.
The Chairperson of Memorandum Committee and Chief Whip of Coordinators Irene Semuko who is also the Deputy Head teacher of Kasanga Seed Secondary School appealed to the President to increase on the honorarium given to them saying the districts are big with many schools and the coordinators have to transport themselves to all schools.
She asked that their uniform be gazetted for proper identification during field activities.