The Joint Staff Commissariat of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), Maj. General Henry Masiko, has encouraged more than 800 student leaders from various Higher Institutions of Learning participating in a Patriotism and Ideological training at Nkumba University to make the most of their youth.
He emphasized that doing so is essential for developing effective solutions for the communities they represent.
“As a leader, your role is to bring solutions, not to demonstrate, quarrel, or exacerbate problems. Leaders solve problems; they don’t create more problems,” he noted.
While delivering a lecture to student leaders, Masiko emphasized to the student leaders that when all leaders dedicate their prime time to preparation and uphold discipline, they will be better equipped to offer answers and solutions to the challenges encountered by those they lead.
“Use your youthful time to prepare, volunteer, and cultivate discipline because leadership is about creating solutions, not problems. As a leader of an institution, you are expected to provide answers not excuses Imagine visiting a hospital and a doctor says they can’t handle your situation that’s unacceptable,” he noted
Masiko stressed that it is important for leaders to always reflect on their leadership skills urging that leadership is about making a positive impact as well as finding solutions to challenges.
He further urged the young leaders to be selective in adopting ideas, prioritizing those that promote the preservation of African heritage, traditions, and culture.
His appealed to young people to engage in critical thinking and discernment as they explore diverse ideologies and viewpoints.
He advised them to always make informed decisions about which ideas to adopt and which to reject, assess the potential impact of those ideas on their lives, communities and culture.
Moses Mufakinanye, a Guild Representative Council member at Makerere Unversity expressed gratitude for the training acknowledging its timeliness and potential impact.
“We have been taken through how to sacrifice, love our country and such training comes at a right time when most of the youth are going a stray, we have taught how to analyse factors of production and how best we can use them to propel them to do right things ,I expect to be equipped with knowledge and skills on how to deal with negative forces and after here I will inspire others,” said Mufakinanye
Belinda Amanya, a student leader at Gulu University and the former Speaker of the 6th East African Youth Parliament, conveyed her appreciation for the chance to participate in the patriotism induction.
“This is an amazing opportunity for us leaders and i know it is going to be so impactful to all of us the youth. Listening to a variety of speakers has been great because as young people when we grow up we want to run for international things and forget our own country but we have learnt how to love, defend and sacrifice for our own country as well as learning what it takes for us the current generation to thrive in our country regardless of gender, social status among other factors,” she highlighted.
On his part, Ian Gumisiriza Jeremiah, the Principal Communications Officer at the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC) Office of the President highlighted the training’s aim saying that it to equip leaders of Higher Institutions learning with leadership skills which will help them to handle different issues and provide possible solutions.
“We are here at Nkumba conducting a patriotism training for student leaders from all Institutions from across the country with the aim of equipping them with capacity and capabilities to handle different t issues because they are supposed to provide solutions,we are training them to know how to take responsibility especially in descision making,” he explained.
“Our Commissioner Hellen Seku with the guidance of our Chief Patron and President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni saw it fit to go organise this training,” he added.
The two weeks training will be officially closed by President Museveni and First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni on January 17, 2025.
