By Raymond Baguma
Ugandans have reason to celebrate the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Liberation Day and examine the country’s history as well as evaluate the 27 years under NRM leadership, the Minister for the presidency, Frank Tumwebaze, has said.
Tumwebaze said: “We are thus celebrating this day in view of the turnaround of the fortunes of our country since January 26, 1986. The prevailing situation we take for granted today was prior to 1986 either a privilege or in most cases non-existent at all.”
The minister said this in a statement to mark 27 years since the NRA/M took over power, following a five-year guerilla war.
This year, the celebrations were postponed from the traditional January 26, to today, which has been declared a public holiday, according to the Government.
Tumwebaze said Uganda’s 50 years of independence is littered with episodes of unfulfilled hopes, sectarianism and political unrest, which marked the first two decades.
“Today we have guarantees of security of lives and property. We have good governance based on the rule of law, constitutionalism, a vibrant Parliament, a wide base of elected leadership and an independent Judiciary,” he said.
He added that with universal primary and secondary education, Ugandan children have chance to go to school and there has been an improvement in indicators of safe water provision, immunisation, rural electrification, women emancipation, rural and urban road infrastructure.
This year’s national celebrations will take place at Nyakasanga Grounds in Kasese district under the theme: “Lessons from Our History: NRM’s Commitment to Create a Better Future for Uganda.”
President Yoweri Museveni will be the chief guest at the event that will also be attended by foreign dignitaries.
The Minister of Information, Mary Karooro Okurut, said former Egyptian deputy minister of national security Omar Kenawi is in the country with a 23-member delegation. Also expected is a delegation from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
