Teachers who graduated doing a goose match
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Up to 1,372 secondary school teachers from Greater Mbarara and Ntungamo regions who have been undergoing a patriotism course at Ntare School, Mbarara City.
The training which started on 26th August, 2025, ran under the theme: “Transforming Teachers lives through Patriotism”.
During the pass-out ceremony, President Yoweri Museveni said that the effort of patriotism which was launched in 2009 is very crucial for the country to know what to do.
“It is very dangerous to have citizens, especially educated people who don’t know what is required to live a good life. This is why I keep saying management of a society is like medicine where the doctor must make a diagnosis of a patient and therefore prescribe a medicine. Similarly, leaders whatever they are must have a correct diagnosis of a society. If they don’t, that society will fail.”
Museveni noted that when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came into power, they took the trouble to know the problems affecting Uganda and how to solve them. They did this by identifying the three historical missions and coming up with the four core principles of the NRM.
A cross section of teachers who graduated
“The moment you become a wealth creator; you will need the four principles of the NRM. The prosperity of Ankole, Buganda, Acholi and other regions depends a lot on Uganda. That’s why we were able to say that you people love Uganda, why? Because you need it for your own prosperity hence patriotism,” he urged.
“Patriotism is not emotional; you love because you need it for your own good. If you say you care about Ankole, but you don’t care about Uganda, you are not serious because Uganda is the one which helps the Banyankore and other tribes to be prosperous.”
The President also underscored the role of Pan-Africanism in promoting external markets.
“Once you start producing you will find that the internal market of Uganda is not enough. That’s why the NRM says that you people love Uganda but also love East Africa and Africa. That’s the second principle, Pan-Africanism. The third principle is socio-economic transformation and then democracy.”
At the same event, Museveni explained why the government took a decision to first pay scientists better at the expense of their counterparts.
“We need roads, factories, veterinary doctors, crop scientists, so since we need these very badly, why don’t we start by paying scientists a bit better so that they help us to go to another level but when we did that maybe we didn’t explain very well some people said all us must get,” he said.
He added: “Now if we try to give all you at a go the little, we have, we shall not be able to go anywhere. What we need now is how to maintain that road, not poetry. It’s not that we don’t want to pay others well, but we have what we call urgency. That’s the logic.”
He said he was glad that people have caught the vision and know that the process must move systematically.
“Arts teachers will also be paid well. Artisan teachers should also be paid like scientists. I will sort that out because artisans are scientists.”
Regarding the issue of paying bribes to get the teachers onto the payroll, the President assured them that he will handle the matter.
Additionally, Museveni tasked the teachers to create wealth through the four sectors of the economy which include, commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT.
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni said that teachers are a critical asset in the country because they impart the value of patriotism in the minds and hearts of the young people.
“The time a teacher spends in the life of a child or young person is valuable in moulding what it means to love one’s country. This love for one’s country is demonstrated when citizens put the interest of their country before the pursuit of personal interests,” Maama Janet noted.
“The spirit of patriotism challenges the citizen to look at themselves as a central contributor to their nation’s well-being for the common interest of all as opposed to focusing on the pursuit of personal interests and gains. Therefore, the prosperity of a nation cannot be divorced from the patriotism of its people.”
About the Author
