Africa-Press – Uganda. The Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Patricia Achan Okiria, has challenged Ugandan youth to embrace resilience, responsibility, and patriotism as pillars for good governance and national transformation.
Speaking at the Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA) Secondary Schools Debate, Poetry, and Public Speech Championship in Kampala, Okiria said Uganda’s future rests with its young population, 78% of whom are under 30.
“The Constitution reminds us that all public offices are held in trust for the people. Fighting corruption, injustice, and maladministration is not optional; it is a duty,” she said.
Okiria urged students to model integrity in schools and communities and act as “the eyes and ears of the Inspectorate of Government” in the fight against corruption.
She defined resilience as the ability to rise above challenges such as unemployment, peer pressure, and drug abuse; responsibility as being dependable, accountable, and honest even without supervision; and patriotism as working hard, protecting the environment and cultural values, rejecting corruption, and respecting fellow citizens.
“True patriotism is not blind praise. It is loving Uganda enough to demand better of it and of yourself,” she told participants.
Highlighting Pan-Africanism as a guiding principle for youth, Okiria stressed that African challenges require African solutions, quoting Frantz Fanon: “Every generation must discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.”
She praised UNSA for nurturing student leadership since 1988, promoting values of mindset change, patriotism, and Pan-Africanism, and encouraged students to use platforms like debate, poetry, and public speaking as “leadership academies” to sharpen critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
“The Inspectorate will continue to investigate and prosecute corruption, but we cannot succeed without you. We need your energy, your patriotism, and your voice,” Okiria said.
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