Seku, Balaam Tip Students on Discipline as Ntare School Graduates 830 Patriots

The National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps Commissioner, Ms. Hellen Seku has encouraged parents to help their children use technologies to support their learning, but within a broader social context of growing anxiety about issues of Internet safety, and the unreliability of knowledge taken from the Internet.

Ms Seku said one of the core   values of patriotism is to love knowledge, but most of the Ugandans below 40 years love to ask everything from Google. She said whereas this is good and recommendable, learners need to visit libraries and do some readings saying that not everything online is trustable.

“Internet is for everyone you cannot differentiate the correct and the wrong. However it’s upon our patriots and parents to guide the children on what type of knowledge they should acquire”, said Seku.

Some of the Ntare School Patriots at a parade.

Seku made the remarks on Thursday while officiating at the pass out of 830 Senior One and Five students of Ntare School in Mbarara City who were undergoing patriotism training for eight days.

The Commissioner said the learners should be well informed and will not remain the same after the training, encouraging them to have brotherly connections within East Africa for both economic and political integration of the region.

Ntare School Headteacher Mr Saul Rwampororo , Commissioner Patriotism Ms Hellen Seku and State Minister for Youth , Dr Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi at Ntare School.

Seku who is also the Presidential Assistant Private Secretary on Youth Affairs indicated that the patriots also need to love environment. She decried the deforestation in various parts of the country especially in Zombo District where there is mass destruction of trees for charcoal. She encouraged the learners to plant edible trees which later one can use to harvest money hence wealth creation and also environmental protection.

Some of the guests who graced the occasion.

Further, Seku advised the learners   not to engage themselves in reckless behaviors such as irresponsible sexual behaviors like Homosexuality, having sex at an early stage, accepting money from sugar mummies among others.  She said the learners need to abstain from sex and desist themselves from irresponsible behaviors describing them as destiny killers. She alluded to recent Nebbi District matter where a senior one student impregnated a Biology teacher saying it was not only embarrassing but also tantamount to aggravated defilement.

She asked parents and other patriots to work together for the safety of all young people.

Ntare School Patriots at the Parade.

On his part, the Head teacher of Ntare School, Saul Rwampororo appreciated Seku and the President for coming up with this initiative saying that it will help in grooming up responsible corrupt free citizens.

Some of the Ntare School students at the Parade.

The State Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi who was the Chief Guest advised students to stop escapism from school going to the neighboring trading center Kajogo where they informed him that they normally go there for leisure and also play stations.

On this, Barugahara demanded to know where the boys get money from to go outside the School for leisure and betting but some students informed him that they are farmers. However, he instead advised them to desist from such non developmental behaviors including alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, thus encouraging focus on education because their parents put in too much money to make sure they focus on their studies.

Ntare School Parents at the Pass out.

Barugahara also used the opportunity to appeal to the parents who were present to support President Yoweri Museveni and his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba for their presidential bids in future.

The event was attended by several parents and other dignitaries such as ,Reverend Jocus Kangume Deputy Headteacher , Reverend Fr Longino Asiimwe the School’s Catholic Chaplain, Chairman Parents Teachers Association Nathan Mugume, Chairman Board of Governors Martin Kananura, Deputy RCC City North Jacqueline Kankunda ,  Mbarara District DPC SSP Guard  Murungi, the Very Reverend Canon Bob Mwesigye Dean St James Cathedral Ruharo Ankole Diocese, Headteacher Kyamate Secondary School and Deputy Head teacher Mbarara High School .

Former Head teacher for Ntare School Jed Bangizi 1977 to 1982 and Mbarara City North Division Mayor Kyabwisho Gumisiriza also attended among others.

Commissioner for Patriotism Seku shaking hands with Ntare School Deputy Headteacher Reverend Jocus Kangume.

The government has since revealed that effective this year, all S6 leavers will undergo compulsory patriotism training for at least three months, according to the proposal in place.

Patriotism Commissioner Seku and Minister Barugahara inspecting the Parade.