Uganda to award Kagame liberation medals

Jan 25, 2012

President Paul Kagame will on Thursday be bestowed upon two prestigious liberation medals in Uganda.


By Vision Reporter

President Paul Kagame will tomorrow (Thursday) be bestowed upon two prestigious liberation medals in Uganda in recognition of his role in the National Resistance Army (NRA) liberation struggle.

Tthe Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador James Mugume, said the medals will be presented to the President during celebrations to mark the 26th National Resistance Movement’s anniversary in Kapchorwa District at Sebei College Sports Grounds.

“He will be presented with the Pearl of Africa medal and the Luweero Triangle medal because he was among the original 27 fighters of the struggle,” Mugume told The New Times of Rwanda in Kampala yesterday.

Mugume said President Kagame will be the first Head of State to get the Pearl of Africa medal, a new decoration reserved for Heads of State.

The January 26 event is observed annually in commemoration of the day, almost 26 years ago, when President Museveni’s NRA toppled Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa’s military junta.

Information and National Guidance minister, Mary Karooro Okurut, said this year’s function is particularly important because unlike previous celebrations, it is a jubilee year when the country will commemorate 50 years of the country’s Independence.

The ceremony will be held under the theme; ‘Uganda, the Land of Opportunities: NRM’s Contribution during the Last Half of the 50 Years of Uganda’s Independence.

Parliament passed the National Honours and Awards Act to recognise those people who have sacrificed for the nation.

This led to the formation of a nine-member Presidential Awards Committee responsible for vetting and approving heroes.

Section 3(1) of the National Honours and Awards Act, 2001 empowers the President to confer a title of honour on any person and may suspend or revoke the title.

Section 4 of the same law stipulates that the President shall appoint an eight-person Presidential Awards Committee from among persons of high moral character and proven integrity.

The role of the committee is to advise the President in respect of persons upon whom titles of honour may be conferred. Committee members hold office for a five-year period with eligibility for re-appointment.

The selection committee is made up of Gen. Caleb Akwandwanaho, Gen. Elly Tumwiine, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, Prof. Lawrence Mukiibi, Amama Mbabazi, Col. Proscovia Nalweyiso, Hajjat Aisha Nalubega, Dr. Jesudas Mwanje and Betty Akech. It is mandated to sit at least once every six months.

The administration and custodianship of Uganda’s National Honours is the responsibility of the chancery, whose key job is to prepare and publish honor’s lists, purchase the necessary insignia, have custody of the insignia, prepare certificates and rolls of honour and to act as an archive for the national honours.

The chancery is headed by a chancellor, who is appointed by the President on the advice of the Public Service Commission. The chancellor’s terms and conditions of service are equal to those of a Permanent Secretary.

The law also establishes two other key officers, namely, the Herald and the Master of Ceremonies. The former is a voluntary officer whose job is to help the chancellor, while the latter has to be a member of the armed forces, whose job is to conduct ceremonies of investiture or honours and awards.

According to the National Honours and Awards Act 2001, the responsibility to award honours belongs to the President and/or his Presidential Awards Committee.

 

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