Why CA delegates wanted to change Uganda’s motto

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Almost 63 years after independence, Uganda’s motto continues to inspire both pride and debate. To many, it remains a sacred link to the nation’s founding, a reminder that morality and patriotism should go hand in hand. To others, it is a relic too religious, too individualistic and too hollow in the face of modern challenges.

When Uganda became independent in October 1962, one of the first tasks of the young nation was to choose symbols that would express its new identity. Alongside the flag, the anthem and the coat of arms, leaders also agreed on a national motto. The words finally adopted were; For God and My Country.

So, when Uganda’s Constituent Assembly (CA) delegates gathered to write a new Constitution, the national motto was once again a subject of discussion.

For many delegates, For God and My Country represented Uganda’s religious heritage and patriotic duty. They argued that faith in God had carried Uganda through years of war and instability and that the Constitution needed a motto that would inspire hope and unity. Some members pointed out that almost all Ugandans were people of faith, either Christian or Muslim. So, leaving God out of the national spirit was unthinkable. To them, linking God and country together meant that love for the nation would always be tied to morality and divine guidance.

However, there were also concerns. A few delegates questioned whether tying the motto so closely to religion might exclude those who did not believe, or give politicians cover to misuse religion for political purposes. They worried that the state might use the motto to appear holy, while failing to practice true accountability.

Leading the debate on symbolism, Buzaaya county delegate Isaac Musumba even suggested a subtle, but profound change to the national motto.

“The motto on the coat of arms should be changed from ‘For God and my Country’ to For God and our Country,” he said. Still, the majority felt that the motto had already become part of Uganda’s identity. It was engraved on the coat of arms, embraced in schools and military culture and widely recognised by the public.

Changing it, they argued, would break continuity and confuse citizens. In the end, the CA overwhelmingly agreed to retain For God and My Country in the Constitution.

The delegates, who defended the motto, argued that it gives Uganda a moral foundation and ties the country to its independence story.

They added that it represents originality because it came from Busoga College Mwiri and it is also seen as a locally-rooted phrase, not a foreign invention.

Busoga College Mwiri, a missionary-founded school whose motto in Luganda is Kulwa Katonda n’Eggwanga Lyaffe, was translated as “For God and Our Country and entrenched as Uganda’s motto.

However, those who wanted to change it argued that the motto was chosen quickly by a committee at independence, without consultation. Important national symbols, they argued, should be the result of broad public participation.

Yet for those who selected the motto, the structure of the phrase places God first, and the country second. This reflects the view that loyalty to God is higher than loyalty to the state, and that moral principles should guide patriotism.

VISION GROUP’S MAGAZINE

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Uganda’s Constitution promulgation, Vision Group will on October 7, publish a comprehensive magazine that highlights the milestones covered under the Constitution.

CONSTITUTIONAL RULE

When the National Resistance Army (NRA) overran Kampala under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, the journey to transition to Constitutional rule started almost immediately with the issuance of Legal Notice No. 1 of 1986.

The legal notice established the legal framework for the NRM government, vesting legislative powers in the National Resistance Council and outlining the code of conduct for the NRA.

The CA, which comprised representatives elected by the people under the chairmanship of James Wapakhabulo on September 22, 1995, promulgated the Constitution, effectively replacing the one of 1967.

In the run-up to October 7, New Vision will publish stories that showcase the country’s progress under the Constitution.