23 distinguished persons to receive Independence medals

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As Uganda celebrates her 63rd Independence Day since gaining freedom from British colonial rule, a total of 23 distinguished persons whose services to Uganda have been extraordinary will be honoured with prestigious medals.

According to Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who will be the guest of honour at the celebrations, will present the Distinguished Order of the Crested Crane (Grand Officer) medal, the National Independence Diamond Jubilee medals, and the Nalubaale medals.

Addressing a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Babalanda said that among those to be honoured are eight women and fifteen men who have contributed significantly to Uganda’s economic, social, and cultural development.

“This is also the day to remember our Independence heroes like Ignatius Kangave Musaazi, who formed the first political party in Uganda; the Uganda National Congress (UNC) in 1952, assisted by Abubaker Kakyama Mayanja for Buganda, Stefano Abwangato from Bugisu, Yekosefat Ngur from Lango, Ben Okwerede from Teso and S.B Katembo from Toro,” Babalanda said.

“Others were Sir William Wilberforce Nadiope, who was part of the Uganda delegation that went to the 1961 Lancaster Conference in England to advocate for Independence, Benedicto Kiwanuka and former President Apollo Milton Obote, who was the first Prime Minister of Uganda, and Semakula Mulumba,” she added.

This year’s Independence celebrations will be held at Kololo Independence Grounds under the theme, “63 years of Independence: A reason to double our effort in sustaining a united and progressive nation.” President Museveni will be joined by delegations from Russia, Libya, and the United Arab Emirates, Babalanda disclosed.

The Minister for Presidency, Milly Babalanda (second left), Hajjat Zaminah Marole (second right), the Cabinet Secretary Presidential Awards after addressing journalist at Uganda Media Centre. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba

Uganda’s economic growth

According to Babalanda, Uganda’s economy has demonstrated strong resilience to both domestic and external shocks, recording an estimated 6% growth over the past 30 years.

“In nominal terms, the size of the economy is estimated at sh226.3 trillion in purchasing power parity terms. This growth is broad-based, including in agriculture, industry and services like the information communication technology (ICT),” she highlighted.

She added that with the signing of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) on July 25, 2024, integrated market access from the East African Community (EAC), African Union (AU), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has opened up trade opportunities for Ugandans.

“The growth of the economy has enabled Uganda to tackle the other sectors of the economy so efficiently, like education, tourism, ICT, transport, science and technology and innovation, manufacturing and industrial growth,” Babalanda observed.

Peace and security pushing Uganda to new horizons

Hajjat Zaminah Marole, the cabinet secretary for presidential awards, said Uganda would not have achieved such progress without the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government’s efforts to maintain peace over the last 39 years since 1986.

“We are aware that peace, stability and rule of law can only take one so far, but if one does not feed the people, those bragging rights can become a thing of nightmares,” she said.

“It is time to focus on the objectives of prosperity for all. It is with this thought in mind that the Ugandan government has declared all-out war on poverty,” she observed.

Marole added that bringing about prosperity is the next frontier for economic emancipation and that the strategy to achieve this goal is already in place.

“Our democratic growth is getting better with continuous improvements. Tribalism and sectarianism, vices that were planted by the colonialists, are slowly being eliminated,” she noted.