▶️ IN THE WEEK PAST: NRM liberation day celebrated at Kololo

36TH NRM VICTORY DAY ANNIVERSARY

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni projected that Uganda's economy will grow to $44b (about sh155 trillion) by July this year, also raising optimism that the journey forward will be "intense but profitable".

For the country to remain on a high middle-income status trajectory, the President sounded a clarion call to especially NRM leaders to re-energize the ongoing wealth creation efforts targetting all Ugandans.

"The journey forward is going to get serious, intense, but also profitable," he said at Kololo Independence Grounds during the 36th NRM victory day anniversary on a sweltering Wednesday.

During the scaled-down event attended by no more than 550 invited guests amid coronavirus pandemic restrictions, dozens of civilians received medals for their work and individual achievements.

The medals for the 50 recipients on the day included the Luwero Triangle, Nalubaale, Golden Jubilee and Special Service.

Many of the people awarded the Golden Jubilee medal are medical doctors, including Dr. Rev. Sr. Margaret Ajiko Mary (consultant surgeon) and Dr. Florence Alaroker, a consultant paediatrician.

Dr. Joseph Epodoi, who famously led a team of surgeons to successfully free a conjoined twin from its dead sibling in Soroti, was also a recipient of the Golden Jubilee medal, which is awarded to individuals for their outstanding service and loyalty to the country since independence.

 

Prof. Patrick Engeu Ogwang, the man behind Covidex, a treatment for COVID-19, was also awarded.

The sporting fraternity also had recipients of the Golden Jubilee medal in the form of 22-year-old Peruth Chemutai, who bagged Uganda's first ever gold in the women's 3000m steeplechase at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021.

Jacob Kiplimo also received this medal. He broke the world half marathon with an impressive time of 57:31 in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2021.

In the academics world, Prof. Monica Chibita, 59, received the Golden Jubilee medal. She is the dean of the Faculty of Journalism, Media and Communication at Uganda Christian University in Mukono.

'Economy growing'

Wednesday's celebration - marked nationally every year on January 26 - was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Vice-President Jessica Alupo, top officials of the ruling NRM party, security leaders, religious leaders, including newly-installed Archbishop of Kampala Paul Ssemogerere, and diplomatic guests.

Archbishop of Kampala Paul Ssemogerere, who was installed on Tuesday at Rubaga

In his delivery that was woven around the economy, the coronavirus pandemic, education and African political dynamics, Museveni talked of how the Ugandan economy had grown in the last three decades.

"When we started [in 1986], the economy was $1.5b (about sh5.2 trillion). This means that the economy has grown 29 times in size since that time. In July, the GDP per capita will be $980 (about sh3.4m) - that is very near the middle-income status GDP per capita of $1,039 (about sh3.7m)," he said.

The President said Uganda would have already achieved middle-income status if it was not for the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019, and in the months that followed, the entire world was thrown into an unprecedented frenzied mix of lockdowns, and economic and travel restrictions. 

Uganda was not spared either. Most of the local economic activity was forced into hibernation amid efforts to slow the spread of the deadly virus, and learners were squeezed back into home settings during periods of ubiquitous confinements.

Several months on, the situation is changing - for the better.

A resumption of Uganda's full-throttle economic activity has been marked by the night economy reawakening from its deep slumber, two weeks after the reopening of schools after nearly two years of closure as the country ricocheted in and out of two lockdowns.

While Museveni said he is "satisfied" with Uganda's level of growth, he underlined that it is "high time to rapidly develop to high middle-income status".

"We can grow rapidly to a much higher level because some people have already achieved high middle-income status at an individual level."

Striking a tone of confidence, the President added: "This is the time to go to another level. Let's go to high middle-income level."

In his delivery to the nation, Museveni rallied stakeholders to take advantage of the full potential of Uganda's economy, reiterating his four-pronged template of the sectors needed to spur extended development: agriculture, industry, services and ICT.

"We can use agriculture to push the economy to middle-income status, but agriculture alone cannot sustainably move alone if you don't add industry," he said.

Vice-President Jessica Alupo at Kololo on Wednesday

For now, Uganda needs to get to the low middle-income status first, and by Museveni's projections, that will come in the coming two years. Once there, the next pedestal will be the high middle-income status.

"We are already moving," he said.

"We already have surplus of maize, milk, bananas, sugar. But we need more and we shall be able to market them either within Uganda, in the region or internationally. We have access to the US market, European market, China, etc. The markets are there if we produce products of the right quality."

There has been a marked repeated outcry by producers over the lack of market for their produce or products.

"If there is no regional market, then we can turn the surplus maize and sugar into petroleum - ethanol. (...) Our cars will use that and we shall knock out a big amount of the import bill," said the President.

Museveni's confidence is buoyed, in part, by the high literacy level of Ugandans (about 77%) and the spirit of invention by Ugandan scientists in, for instance, the automotive and pathogenic industries.

"In the agro-processing industries, we are going to add forest products so that we produce our own paper - from bamboo, for instance - instead of importing it."

The security chiefs at Kololo

'We shall find a solution'

A little over two weeks ago, Ugandan schools reopened their doors for learners to resume physical instruction.

One of the sticky issues that emerged during their months-long stay away from school was young girls getting pregnant, which raised debate whether they should be allowed to return to school or not.

At Kololo, Museveni voiced his irritation over what he called international media's focus on the matter instead of paying attention to, for instance, the death toll.

"They missed the point," he said. 

"Being pregant is a complication but it is not dying. The original probem , the one we were fighting, was dying - and we succeeded."

As of January 26, Uganda has lost 3,502 people to the coronavirus, according to the latest update from the health ministry.

In comparative terms, Museveni said he thinks Uganda has fared in keeping COVID deaths at a minimum, considering that some countries, such as the US, Brazil and India, have lost hundreds of thousands of people to the virus.

Apostle Dr. Joseph Serwadda at Kololo

The President was, however, keen not to wish away the problem of pregnant learners, some of whom have since given birth.

"On the pregnant girls returning to school, we are going to discuss with the Cabinet and bishops. We shall  find a solution," he said.

"What I will not agree to is to condemn the child not to continue with her education because she got pregnant. It is neither logical nor certainly religious."

On the pandemic fight at large, Museveni thanked Ugandans and congratulated them "for listening to our advice and observing very strict restrictions".

"Thank you for passing the test. This was a test and we passed it reasonably well."

'Let us harmonize our thinking'

On security matters on the continent, Museveni rallied African leaders to "sit down and exhange views on how to build strength in Africa".

He said the political instability in some parts of Africa, including recent coups in Burkina Faso and Guinea, "is going to take us back".

"We shall get in touch with our West African leaders and see how we can harmonize our thinking."

Closer to home, Museveni thanked President Felix Tshisekedi of neighbouring DR Congo for "having allowed us to work with our brothers to finish that problem."

This was in reference to the recent joint assault by Ugandan (UPDF) and Congolese (FADRC) military forces on camps of the rebel outfit ADF in eastern DR Congo. This followed bomb attacks in Uganda's capital Kampala in 2021, believed to have been orchestrated by the ADF.

"We are working together to stop that little problem of ADF. ADF is nothing. We shall defeat them."

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📸  PICTURES FROM KOLOLO

President Musveveni arriving at Kololo for the function on Wednesday

The anthems were played - and sung - as part of the formalities

Security chiefs, from left: Gen Wilson Mbadi (UPDF), Martins Okoth-Ochola (Police) and Johnson Byabashaija (Prisons)

From left, Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda, NRM first national vice chairman Al-hajji Moses Kigongo and Vice-Speaker of Parliament Anitah Among

Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo

Archbishop of Kampala Paul Ssemogerere leading prayers

Museveni inspecting the guard of honour

The goose march during the march past on a hot Wednesday at Kololo

Former Vice-President of Uganda Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi

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LIST OF MEDAL RECIPIENTS

Golden Jubilee medal (civilian)

- Prof. Patrick Engeu Ogwang
- Dr. Joseph Brown Kigula-Mugambe
- Prof. Philippa Musoke
- Dr. Joseph Epodoi
- Dr. Josephine Namugenyi (medical officer)
- Dr. Rev. Sr. Margaret Ajiko Mary (consultant surgeon)
- Dr. Joan Uwantege (medical officer)
- Dr. Innocent Ocen (intern doctor)
- Dr. Amina Nakawesa (intern doctor)
- Dr. Florence Alaroker Senior (consultant paediatrician)
- Dr. Clare Nakubulwa (medical officer)
- Jackson Keem Moding (senior anaesthetic officer)
- John Guma Ambaga (senior anaesthetic officer)
- Zenaida Kituyi (anaesthetic officer)
- Sr. Medrine Kibetenga (recovery nurse)
- Sr. Sarah Alekat (recovery nurse)
- Sr. Jenipher Ajilong (instrument nurse)
- Daniel Ebwalu (theatre nurse)
- Margaret Ajok (recovery nurse)
- Prof. Monica Chibita
- Dr. Catherine Nakalembe
- Peruth Chemutai
- Jacob Kiplimo
- Charles Mawerere
- Robinah Mwangale Mubeeke
- Frank Kalimuzo (RIP)
- Gollapalli Naga Mohana Rao
- Dr. Stephen Birungi
- Onyach Onecimo Oyoo (RIP)

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Nalubaale medal (civilian)

- Hajji Isa Mbago

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Luwero Triangle medal (UPDF)

- Maj. Saad Katongole
- Lt. Godfrey Kyofuna
- Lt. Musa Kyeyune
- Sgt. Grace Nyakato

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Special Service medal (Police)

- Spc. Hannington Nsubuga
- Spc. Paul Kahare
- Spc. Joseph Matovu
- Spc. Nyabutsisi Muhindakazi
- Spc. Anna Wanirwoth
- Spc. Ismail Wajja
- Spc. Yusuf Serubiri
- Spc. David Lwejje
- Spc. Christopher Tengi
- Spc. Muhammed Mumbya
- Spc. Abdalah Byogezi
- Spc. Ramathan Watuwa
- Spc. Tanansi Wasswa
- Spc. David Kiiza
- Spc. John Ssabwe
- Spc. Richard Sharita

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