Gulu | Brig Gen Felix Busizoori, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, has expressed gratitude to Commander-in-Chief Gen Yoweri Museveni for his visionary initiative to establish patriotic clubs in government educational institutions.
He stated that these clubs have instilled in the youth a sense of discipline and integrity.
At the end of the week-long Patriotic Development Course held at the Gulu College of Health Sciences campus at Laro-Pece Division in Gulu City, Brig Gen Busizoori was represented by Col Jackson Kayanja.
Col Jackson, Deputy Commander of the 4th Infantry Division, also urged newly graduated students from Gulu College of Health Sciences to be positive change agents in the East African region.
He advised the graduates to carry the values of patriotism they had learnt into their future roles, both in Uganda and abroad.
“As you complete your diploma courses and begin your careers, embody patriotism and serve as ambassadors of peace.”
He emphasised the importance of restraint and harmony in their professional and personal lives, encouraging them to set a positive example for other East African youths.
Reflecting on regional challenges, Col Kayanja warned patriotism graduates not to emulate the negative aspects seen in Kenya’s Generation Z, and criticised individuals lacking ideological training for fostering division and discord, contrasting them with Uganda’s more unified approach.
“The destruction caused by Gen Z in Kenya demonstrates the dangers of a lack of ideological grounding,” he said.
Kayanja urged the graduates not to take the current peace for granted, recalling the turbulent 1990s in Northern Uganda, and emphasised that without peace, socioeconomic transformation is impossible.
Lt Latwolo Kakonge, Chief Instructor of the Patriotic Development Course, described the program’s thirteen topics, which included Political Education, the roles of youth in nation-building, transformative discipline, and working methods.
Citizenship, civil responsibility, health education, and the core values of patriotism were also discussed.
This year’s theme, “Patriotism for Socio-Economic Transformation,” is intended to complement Uganda’s Vision 2040.
Lt Kakonge praised the trainees’ eagerness and resilience, and he thanked the facilitators for their dedication.
Richard Wakise, a student of Public Health Dentistry and President of the College’s patriotic club, emphasised the course’s impact, citing increased self-confidence, discipline, and a positive shift in perceptions of the military.
“The training instilled a sense of pride and love for our country, and it changed our perceptions of the army, demonstrating their friendly and people-oriented nature,” Wakise said.
The course drew 400 participants and was supported by eight instructors from the UPDF 4th Infantry Division and Patriotic Corp.
The Gulu College of Health Sciences is a government-funded institution. It has included patriotism training in its curriculum.
It offers diploma and certificate programs in public health dentistry, clinical medicine, environmental health, pharmacy, and health leadership and management.
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