Informal product-based training as a strategy for nurturing patriotism for Uganda’s development through university education WJERR Informal product-based training as a strategy for nurturing patriotism for Uganda’s development through university education Catherine Nabayego 1 , Kiggundu Muhammad 2 , Nicholas Itaaga 3 , Anthony Mugagga Muwagga 4* 1 Lecturer in the East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, Uganda. 2 Lecturer in the Department of Humanities and Languages Education, School of Education, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, Uganda. 3 Lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations and Curriculum Studies School of Education College of Education and External Studies Makerere University, Uganda. 4 * Associate Professor in the Department of Foundations and Curriculum Studies, School of Education, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, Uganda. The study examined the usefulness of applying informal product-based training in Ugandan Universities with an aim of cultivating patriotism in their products. Identified study practices included patriotic clubs, cultural, and peer associations. The study was carried out in central Uganda between 2013 and 2015. The study sample was drawn from 8 private and public Universities in Uganda which included: Makerere University, Ndejje University, Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, Uganda Christian University Mukono, Kampala International University, Kampala University, and Muteesa I Royal University, and Cavendish University. The study findings were collected using questionnaires and analysed descriptively and using the Chi- Square test. The findings showed that the identified informal product-based training practices were not used at all. The study recommended that informal product practices should be adopted both in the management and extracurricular University activities so as to cultivate and enhance patriotism. Keywords: Informal training practices, religious influence in education, economics of education, philosophical orientation of university education INTRODUCTION It is assumed that true university education ought to develop its graduates into not only academically sound persons but persons who are sound and informed in almost all universally recognised areas of knowledge and civic practice (Okwakol, 2009; Loima, 2006; Muwagga 2006). This study singled out patriotism which different reports and write-ups on current Ugandan University education is allegedly constrained. Patriotism is defined as citizens’ love for, devotion to, and pride in their country (Cepeda, 2013). *Corresponding author: Anthony Mugagga Muwagga, Associate Professor in the Department of Foundations and Curriculum Studies, School of Education, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, Uganda World Journal of Educational Research and Reviews Vol. 2(2), pp. 014-021, October, 2015. © www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: XXXX-XXXX Research Article