Col. Edith Nakalema has commended students and faculty at Victoria University Kampala (VUK) for their openness, curiosity and willingness to engage in critical conversations about Uganda’s future.
The former head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit shared the reflections in a statement following an interactive session at the university on Monday.
Nakalema said she was inspired by the depth of dialogue, noting that the discussions demonstrated a community ready to interrogate issues of nationhood, personal values and individual responsibility.
She reminded the students that patriotism goes beyond emotion, stressing that it requires ethical discipline, courage and a commitment to contribute meaningfully to national stability and prosperity.
She highlighted the importance of diligence, innovation and accountability, saying each action taken by young Ugandans strengthens the country’s social and moral fabric. “Every assignment completed with diligence, every innovation pursued with purpose and every act of accountability strengthens our national fabric,” she noted.
Nakalema also appreciated the university’s leadership—Vice Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Muganga, Dr. Shamim Matovu, and Guild President H.E. Emma whom she credited for fostering an environment that nurtures reflective and responsible future leaders.
She concluded that national transformation begins in spaces like universities where young people are shaped and empowered to serve.
