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A section of the patriotic club members march during the closure of the event. PHOTO/UPDF Handout BY ROBERT ELEMA GULU CITY The UPDF deputy 4th Division commander, Col Jackson Kayanja, has asked the newly trained patriotic students of Gulu College of Health Sc
A section of the patriotic club members march during the closure of the event. PHOTO/UPDF Handout
BY ROBERT ELEMA
GULU CITY
The UPDF deputy 4th Division commander, Col Jackson Kayanja, has asked the newly trained patriotic students of Gulu College of Health Sciences to be change agents to the rest of the youths in the East African region.
Presiding over the week long Patriotic Development Course at Gulu College of Health Science in Gulu city, Col Jackson Kayanja who represented the 4th Division Commander, Brig Gen Felix Busizoori, thanked the Commander- In -Chief for the visionary leadership of opening up patriotic clubs in all government institutions of learning.
He noted that, these clubs have instilled conscious discipline and integrity to the youths. “At the end of your Diploma courses, you will be employed in Uganda and beyond. Please go with the knowledge of patriotism you have attained as ambassadors of peace and exercise restraint in all your endeavors,” he advised.
Col Kayanja encouraged patriotic trainees to serve their country wholeheartedly and learn to live in harmony. He urged them to show examples to other East African youths that Ugandans are peace lovers where there is a disagreement, there are proper channels to be addressed.
“People who are not ideologically oriented are a problem to the society. They promote politics of divisionism, intrigue and are always destructive in nature. When you look at the destruction Gen-z of Kenya did to their country, you automatically conclude that they lacked ideological training,” Col Kayanja added.
He cautioned graduates not to take the prevailing peace in the country for granted, reminding them the turmoil period of the 1990s which affected every sector in Northern Uganda. He emphasized that without peace there can never be social economic transformation.
UPDF officers and other officials pose for group photo after the closure of the training.
PHOTO/UPDF Handout
The Chief Instructor of the Patriotism Development Course, Lt Latwolo Kakonge says, the course module covered thirteen topics which included; introduction to Political Education, roles of the youth in national building, transformative discipline and methods of work.
Other topics like citizenship and civil responsibility, health education, core values of patriotism, pan Africanism and others were also taught.
He elaborated on this year’s theme as “Patriotism for Social Economic Transformation” where emphasis is geared towards highlighting Uganda’s Vision 2040.
Mr. Richard Wakise, a student of public health dentistry and president of patriotic club at Gulu College of Health Science, remarked the positive impact attained during patriotism training.
He says that they live exemplary life, have learnt how to love one another and have passion for patriotism.
He further highlighted the need for every Ugandan especially the youth to go through patriotism training, realizing that patriotism course is not all about physical fitness or NRM ideology but has vital elements of Pan Africanism, ethics and professionalism.
“The morning drills, learning of Kiswahili through singing national and East African Anthems and the leadership skills imparted in us, have developed self-confidence, more focused and disciplined. Most importantly, our negative perceptions towards the army have greatly changed. We have realized that they are friendly and pro- people,” He said.
The number of trainees were 400 drawn from Gulu College of Health Sciences and a total of eight instructors were drawn from UPDF 4th Division headquarters and Patriotic Corp instructors.
Gulu College of Health Sciences is a government funded institution which offers Diploma and Certificate courses for a period of 2 and 3 years respectively.
It has embraced patriotism training over the years to new entrants. Courses offered include, Public Health Dentistry, Clinical Medicine, Environmental Health, Pharmacy, Anesthesia, Health Leadership and Management and other health certificate courses.