Hellen Seku, the newly appointed Commissioner of Patriotism in Uganda, emphasized the pivotal role of loyalty and hard work among the youth for the socio-economic advancement of the nation.
Seku, assuming office officially on Tuesday, succeeding Brigadier General Patrick Mwesigye, stressed the importance of instilling love for the country from a young age, particularly among the youth, to foster a generation of corruption-free patriotic citizens, asserting that corruption obstructs national development.
Pledging to disseminate the essence of patriotism throughout Uganda, Seku underlined the necessity of loving, sacrificing, and remaining loyal to Uganda as the sole homeland, urging the motivation and industriousness of the youth.
She outlined comprehensive strategies, encompassing social media outreach and grassroots physical training initiatives, commencing in February 2024, with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni leading nationwide efforts to promote patriotism.
In her role as the Presidential Advisor on Youth Affairs, Seku expressed concern about the ideological pollution among the youth, stressing the need for a clear mindset. Addressing this issue extends not only to the youth but also to some civil servants, aiming to rectify and eliminate this hindrance.
Seku articulated her vision for citizens to embrace democratic principles, nationalism, hard work, and contribute to socio-economic transformation.
Appointed by President Museveni in October 2023, Seku made these statements while inaugurating her office situated at Embassy House in Kampala.
The ceremony was attended by numerous members of the Patriotism Corps and esteemed figures such as Frank Gashumba, Vice Chairman of the MK Movement Pressure Group for the Central Region, and Dr. Balaam Barugahara, representing the Western Region, who graced the event in solidarity.
Two months prior, Museveni presided over the graduation of 45,000 students who completed patriotism training at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. During the ceremony, Museveni encouraged the embrace of six core values initiated in 2009 for school patriotism clubs: Love for East Africa, Love for Africa, Love for the Environment, Understanding Human Evolution, and Self-Love.
