Hellen Seku calls for support to empower youths trained in patriotism

Hellen Seku, the Commissioner of the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps and Private Secretary for Youth Affairs to the President, has appealed to government to provide tangible support for unemployed patriotic youths equipped with valuable skills.
Seku made these remarks during a ceremony held at Nkumba University, where 750 student leaders from 83 institutions across Uganda completed a two-week patriotism training program.
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She revealed that the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps has trained over 146,791 Ugandans nationwide, far surpassing its annual target of 75,000.
However, she expressed concern that many trained youths remain unemployed, and proposed the establishment of patriotism-focused savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) to enable them to implement their skills and contribute to national development.
The program, which emphasized patriotism, leadership, and ideological grounding, was designed to instill core national values and inspire a mindset shift among participants.
Seku highlighted that the graduates are well-positioned to drive change in their communities and institutions if supported effectively.
Participants included 225 females, 425 males, and 3 individuals with disabilities, selected from universities, higher learning institutions, and S.6 leavers with leadership potential.
They represented guild leaders, patriotism study groups, NRM chapter leaders, and other key youth bodies.
Seku detailed how the training, conducted by experienced instructors from government, academia, and the private sector, covered critical topics such as, foundations of patriotism and ideology, political economy and social development, social systems and patriotic discipline, financial literacy and effective leadership.
The students also had the rare opportunity to interact with senior leaders, including Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
Seku commended President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni for their unwavering support toward fostering patriotism among the youth and strengthening the education sector.
She urged the graduates to act as ambassadors of patriotism by practicing and promoting its values in their daily lives.
“Your role as young leaders is to inspire others and champion the spirit of patriotism in Uganda. Go out and lead by example,” Seku advised.
President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni officiated the pass-out ceremony, commending the participants for their commitment and encouraging them to play an active role in building a better Uganda.