Why PLU will do more to engage the youth in patriotism, Pan Africanism

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OPINION

Henry Mutegeki Basaliza

By Henry Mutegeki Basaliza

Every year, youth all over the world celebrate International Youth Day, In Uganda we have been celebrating it since its inception, and have put across different structures and programmes to help the youth from grassroot to national level, but the youth continue to face challenges ranging from the lack of information and untapped talents all over the countryside.

In Uganda we have relatively a youthful population that stand on the runway to a demographic dividend and economic transformation, if they find the correct formula to harness their energy, creativity and entrepreneurship that young people have to offer. But even with this major advantage the young generation have to be nurtured, trained and given hope so that they are not diverted into subversive activities.

It is important, therefore, for PLU to engage and mobilise more youth while avoiding the political sentiments of an ever politicking population, I am sure the new Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, who is also a senior member of PLU, will put a lot of effort into seeing that our youth understand Pan Africanism and patriotism. It is important to note that the young generation has been central in the development of Uganda since independence. Therefore, nurturing them with right values at a tender age will help our country in future to get leaders capable of transforming the country through Pan Africanism and patriotism.

The Merriam Webster dictionary describes patriotism as a love for or devotion to one’s country. Therefore, in countries where the citizens embrace patriotism there is a high sense of collegiality and belongingness to their country. They endeavour to promote the common interest. When a group of citizens have common bond, whether they are within or outside, they deeply care for one another and commit to do better in their communities and finally have greater responsibility.

PLU believes that our heritage is our beloved country Uganda and expanded interests lies in East African Community and African unity. That is why we also emphasise the domestication of Pan Africanism as a principle.

This principle has been largely articulated in all forums by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He emphasises that the survival of Ugandans lies in a large market and that can be possible within East African integration and Africa’s continental market.

Pan Africanism as a concept is about shared humanity, traditions, climate and trade. As Africans, we have been subjects of colonialism and imperialism for many years. We should re-engage in ideas of social progress for our continent so as to avoid the challenges of being re-colonised again. Our forefathers like Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, Sekou Toure and others did their work during the African liberation struggles as the founding fathers of our nations after the 1945 fifth Pan African Congress and gave the African people hope for the future.

That is why PLU should embrace the spirit of Pan Africanism, be able to domesticate it to a large population, but most importantly to higher institutions, secondary schools and other stakeholders. Our youth will be able to understand for example why UPDF was in Congo, Liberia, Somalia and other African countries. They will also be able to appreciate regional integration as the precursor to socio-economic transformation, where youth can secure opportunities of innovations and jobs.

Therefore, in doing all this, we need to change the mindset of Ugandans to work hard and build their country as stated in the Constitution, national objectives and directive principles of state policy most especially objective (iv) (i): The State and citizens of Uganda shall at all times defend the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda.

Lastly in objective number (ii): The State and citizens of Uganda shall endeavour to build national strength in the political, economic and social spheres to avoid undue dependence on other countries and institutions. Ugandans should at least understand how Italian politician Giuseppe Mazzini galvanized small tribes into a classic nation with a centralized military command, religious, treasury and leadership. Therefore, as Winston Churchill once said the empires of the future are the empires of the mind.

The writer is a co-ordinator of PLU for Toro sub-region