The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Makerere University Chapter has welcomed new students at an orientation function held at the Main Hall on Saturday, October 19.

Organisers of the event say the aim was to spread Pan-Africanism among students.

The Guest of Honour was Colonel Bahoku Barigye, the chief political commissar of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

In his remarks, Colonel Bahoku emphasised ideology and promotion of Pan-Africanism among students. He said people can live together but think differently.  “I would proudly be pleased if I found mixed colours here like yellow, red caps, green and blue,” he said.

In Uganda’s politics, yellow represents the ruling National Resistance Movement while red caps refer to the People Power pressure group led by popular musician-cum-politician, Robert Kyagulanyi, who represents Kyadondo East in Parliament. The UPDF recently gazetted red berets saying it is an attire for one of the departments if the army, the Military Police. Green and blue colours represent the Democratic Party and Forum for Democratic Change party respectively.

Bahoku, who said he is not apolitical, noted that the role of University students in national security should not be underplayed. He emphasised what he called a national psych arguing that nationals should pick interest security as a common good.

Perhaps to put more emphasis on Pan-Africanism, Bahoku encouraged students to adopt African names.

 Maxxzon Muwezi, Chairperson NRM Makerere University Chapter, said Africa remains the greatest content and that Africans are of a superior race. “Therefore everyone has the potential and capacity to influence the face of Africa and improve it,” he said.

Muhwezi added that the NRM Chapter aims at recruiting young people into the ruling party. “NRM has been a sleeping giant in the chapter but this has been solved by the current leaders and we've worked with the well-wishers, participated in the guild elections and continue to recruit on interests of the president,” he said.

He noted that NRM will present a candidate in the next guild elections and even win the elections. “We will mobilise and organise until we overwhelm our opponents,” he concluded.

Professor Peter Baguma, the Chapter Patron, explained the party strategy to win elections. “We have the strategy in place with plans to win the 2020 guild elections,” he said. He said that this event is to welcome freshmen and women into the party. He advised new students to mobilise and encourage other students to join the party.

Photo picked from Flickr