President Museveni has presided over the pass-out ceremony of 1,372 secondary school teachers from the Greater Mbarara and Ntungamo regions following the completion of a two-week patriotism training program at Ntare School in Mbarara City.
The training, which began on August 26, was organised by the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC) under the theme: “Transforming Teachers’ Lives Through Patriotism.”
Addressing the graduates, President Museveni emphasized the importance of ideological clarity among educators, stating that ignorance of national priorities—especially among the educated—poses a danger to Uganda’s development.
“It is very dangerous to have educated people who don’t know what is required to live a good life,” the President said. “Management of society is like medicine. You must diagnose the problem before prescribing treatment.”
He reiterated the four ideological pillars of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)—patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy—arguing that national prosperity depends on a population that understands and lives by these principles.
“Patriotism is not emotional. You love your country because you need it for your own good,” the President added, warning against regionalism that undermines national unity.
President Museveni also used the occasion to revisit the contentious issue of salary disparities between science and arts teachers.
He defended the government’s decision to prioritise scientists in salary enhancements, citing their strategic role in national transformation.
“We need roads, factories, veterinary doctors, and crop scientists. We started with them not because we don’t care about others, but because of urgency. However, arts teachers and artisan instructors will also be considered,” he said.
He assured teachers that government was committed to equitable salary reviews in the coming financial years and vowed to address allegations of bribery in the teacher payroll system.
In a separate appeal, the president encouraged teachers to participate in wealth creation beyond the classroom, urging them to tap into four key sectors of the economy: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT.
“Do not wait for government jobs alone. You can also create wealth through these sectors,” he said.
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, who was also present at the ceremony, congratulated the teachers and described them as a critical force in shaping future generations.
“The time a teacher spends with a child is valuable in molding what it means to love one’s country,” she said. “The spirit of patriotism challenges citizens to prioritise the national good over personal interest.”
She called on teachers to embrace sacrificial service and leadership, drawing lessons from countries that achieved socio-economic transformation through unity and shared purpose, even under difficult conditions.
Ms. Hellen Seku, Commissioner of the National Patriotism Secretariat, said the training was organised in response to teachers’ requests and aimed to empower educators to serve as role models and community change agents.
“The goal was to equip teachers with values of discipline, hard work, and a commitment to national service,” she said.
Mr. Saul Rwampororo, the Head Teacher of Ntare School and one of the programme coordinators, revealed that the participants came from eight areas: Mbarara City, Mbarara District, Ntungamo, Rwampara, Isingiro, Ibanda, Kiruhura, and Kazo.
He praised the high standards of the training, which included lectures from national figures and parade drills conducted by professional military personnel.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Mr. Perez Asiimwe, chair of the trainees’ Memorandum Committee, said the training was comprehensive and transformative.
“We studied patriotism, Pan-Africanism, financial literacy, political economy, and the NRM principles, among others,” he said. “We are grateful for this opportunity and for the President’s commitment to enhancing teacher welfare.”
The training was fully sponsored by the State House through the National Patriotism Secretariat, and officials said more such initiatives are planned to expand the program across the country.
