16 sept 2026
Students of St Mary’s College Kisubi have been urged to embrace patriotism, discipline, education and productivity as they prepare to play a role in Uganda’s future development.
The call was made by the Commander of 16 Service Brigade, Special Forces Command (SFC), Lieutenant Colonel Frank Murema, while addressing the students during a lecture on national power.
Lt Col Murema identified five key elements of national power: diplomacy, information and intelligence, the military, the economy and the population. He explained that these elements contribute to national security, informed decision-making, economic growth and international cooperation.
Drawing lessons from Uganda’s development journey and comparing it with China’s experience, Lt Col Murema emphasised the importance of education in equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and values needed to contribute to national development.
He also highlighted the Competence-Based Curriculum, saying it should help produce skilled, innovative and responsible citizens capable of responding to Uganda’s development needs.
“The future is in production. You must acquire knowledge and skills that enable you to create, produce and contribute to national development,” he said.
Lt Col Murema further encouraged the students to develop discipline, personal responsibility and a strong work ethic. He urged them to embrace entrepreneurship, innovation and production while viewing East Africa and the wider African continent as a shared market.
On patriotism, he encouraged the students to love, protect and contribute to Uganda regardless of the circumstances they face. He also stressed the importance of unity, brotherhood and integration in promoting national and regional development.
The students were additionally urged to use knowledge responsibly, reject hatred and destructive influences, and maintain good moral character in their interactions with others.
The interactive lecture attracted active participation from the students, who expressed appreciation for the lessons on patriotism, discipline, productivity and national responsibility.
