7 Heads of State to grace Independence fête

By Carol Kasujja

SEVEN Heads of States and Government are expected in the country as guests at Uganda’s 52nd Independence Day anniversary celebrations to be held at Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday. So far, Heads of State of Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan have confirmed their attendance.

President Yoweri Museveni will preside over the event commemorated under the theme, 'Unity, Peace, Security and Regional integration'. The anniversary will start at 9am.

In his speech read by Ofwono Opondo, the Media Center Executive Director, Frank Tumwebaze, the minister for the Presidency, said that any nation that ignores Unity, Peace and Security is bound to fail in her efforts of attaining true and sustainable Independence.

He added: “Celebrating the 52nd anniversary of our national Independence is a befitting moment to reflect on the past consequences of our failure to nurture these key pillars during our independence journey and the positive impact they are having on our country now that they were restored,”

Tumwebaze said that lack of unity did not only hamper fast achievement of independence but it has been a major contributing factor to Uganda’s Political  and Security woes especially in the early years of our independence.

“Even now, in spite of the many efforts by Ugandans (citizens and leaders), through formal sensitization programmes, liberalized school system as well as non-formal programmes like sports, games, music dance and drama, principled and sustained Unity of purpose among Ugandans is still rather Illusive,” he said.

In his statement, Tumwebaze noted that the first generation of our past Independence leaders confirmed the need for Regional Integration and made efforts to bring the three countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania together but it is a pity these initial efforts were bought to abrupt and sad end in 1977.

“Regional Integration is essential for the sustenance of our Independence because we need larger and lucractive markets for our products and besides the world has become a global village so to speak because no single country can survive on her own,” he noted.

He said that Regional Integration makes an Independent country internationally stronger, her economy more viable and her voice incomparably louder.