I share a birthday with Uganda
Uganda was born on October 9, 1962. Thousands gather at Kololo Airstrip on that day to celebrate the country’s birthday. On the same day, there are many kids celebrating for similar reasons: It is also their birthday.
Uganda was born on October 9, 1962. Thousands gather at Kololo Airstrip on that day to celebrate the country’s birthday. On the same day, there are many kids celebrating for similar reasons: It is also their birthday.
Rehema Aanyu asked some of them what it means to share a birthday with their country
Because I was born on Uganda’s Independence Day, my parents and friends say I am a real Ugandan. My friends sometimes call me Uganda or Pearl of Africa.
Asmahan Ibrahim,
Kitante Primary School, P.4
I feel very happy, more important and more special than other people because on this day, the whole country indirectly celebrates my birthday. It is wow.
Rachael Kimuli,
Kitante Primary School, P.6
My mother always remembers my birthday. On my last birthday, she told me to always remember this day because it is very important in my life. And on this day I over play with my friends because we do not go to school.
Sandra Akello,
Police Children School, Kibuli, P.6
Because it is a very historical day, no one ever forgets my birthday. My parents and friends say because I was born on Uganda’s Independence Day, Uganda is my agemate and I will grow as old as Uganda.
Faith Chebet,
St Peter’s Primary School
Nsambya, P.6
Because I was born on Uganda’s Independence Day, I think I will be Uganda’s president when I grow up. My friends say important people are always born on important days.
Brian Osekeny,
Kitante Primary School, P.4
My birthday is always special because even though there is no party at home, I go for Independence Day celebrations at Kololo Airstrip with my mother. We love listening to the Police band and seeing different people marching. I feel very happy because the President speaks on my birthday.
Barbra Namuddu,
Kitante Primary School, P.6
No one forgets my birthday at home and because of this, I get many gifts from my family and friends. I also play with all my friends because no one goes to school on that day.
Sharifah Nakkazzi,
Kitante Primary School, P.5
I am always happy on my birthday because my parents usually buy for me a cake and a crate of soda and I celebrate with my cousins at home. They admire me because I was born on a very important day and I feel very proud.
James Mugisha, St Peter’s Primary School Nsambya, P.5
I think because I was born on Uganda’s Independence Day, I will be a politician because this is a day for politicians. On this day I normally go with my family to a concert at Lugogo.
Stella Nanteza,
Kitante Primary School, P.6
I do not mind that I was born on Independence Day. I only wish one day, the President organises a big party for all those children born on Independence Day so that we celebrate with him and all Ugandans at Kololo Airstrip and also visit State House to have a meal with him. I would be the happies person.
Joel Khizire, St Peter’s Primary School Nsambya, P.6
I only celebrated my birthday once in 2005 because then, my father had money. Now he does not work so I will not celebrate it. I would love to get any gift on my birthday to feel special and loved.
Brian Chothembu Onen Rwoth,
Police Children School Kibuli, P.7
Though my birthday is a very important day in Uganda, I do not celebrate it because we do not celebrate birthdays at our home. Organising a party is very expensive and my parents do not have that money. I therefore spend my birthday like other days.
Sharon Naisanga, St. Peter’s Primary School Nsambya, P.6
On this day my mummy treats me like a queen. She prepares my favourite meal; chicken and rice. We also have soda. I enjoy it very much. I like this day because offices and schools are not open. I always tell my friends that I am a very important person and that it is because of me that they have not gone to school on that day.
Ruth Nansere,
Railway Children Primary School, P.6
Because I am my parents’ only child, they buy for me very many nice things on my birthday. They also buy for me whatever I ask them to buy for me. This time I want a cake with colors of the Uganda flag so that I combine my birthday with Independence Day.
Kenneth Okiror, St Peters’ Primary School Nsambya, P.6
I am very happy because my birthday marked the end of colonial rule in Uganda. This means that whoever was born on this day will be a very important person in future.
Paul Kibirango, St Peter’s Primary School Nsambya, P.5
Ever since my father died, I do not celebrate my birthday because there is no one at home to throw for me a party. On this day, he used to buy meat, rice, matooke and soda and we would eat as a family. I miss my birthday because nowadays it is just a normal day.
Jonathan Mabandha, Police Children School, Kibuli, P.4
Rehema Aanyu asked some of them what it means to share a birthday with their country
Because I was born on Uganda’s Independence Day, my parents and friends say I am a real Ugandan. My friends sometimes call me Uganda or Pearl of Africa.
Asmahan Ibrahim,
Kitante Primary School, P.4
I feel very happy, more important and more special than other people because on this day, the whole country indirectly celebrates my birthday. It is wow.
Rachael Kimuli,
Kitante Primary School, P.6
My mother always remembers my birthday. On my last birthday, she told me to always remember this day because it is very important in my life. And on this day I over play with my friends because we do not go to school.
Sandra Akello,
Police Children School, Kibuli, P.6
Because it is a very historical day, no one ever forgets my birthday. My parents and friends say because I was born on Uganda’s Independence Day, Uganda is my agemate and I will grow as old as Uganda.
Faith Chebet,
St Peter’s Primary School
Nsambya, P.6
Because I was born on Uganda’s Independence Day, I think I will be Uganda’s president when I grow up. My friends say important people are always born on important days.
Brian Osekeny,
Kitante Primary School, P.4
My birthday is always special because even though there is no party at home, I go for Independence Day celebrations at Kololo Airstrip with my mother. We love listening to the Police band and seeing different people marching. I feel very happy because the President speaks on my birthday.
Barbra Namuddu,
Kitante Primary School, P.6
No one forgets my birthday at home and because of this, I get many gifts from my family and friends. I also play with all my friends because no one goes to school on that day.
Sharifah Nakkazzi,
Kitante Primary School, P.5
I am always happy on my birthday because my parents usually buy for me a cake and a crate of soda and I celebrate with my cousins at home. They admire me because I was born on a very important day and I feel very proud.
James Mugisha, St Peter’s Primary School Nsambya, P.5
I think because I was born on Uganda’s Independence Day, I will be a politician because this is a day for politicians. On this day I normally go with my family to a concert at Lugogo.
Stella Nanteza,
Kitante Primary School, P.6
I do not mind that I was born on Independence Day. I only wish one day, the President organises a big party for all those children born on Independence Day so that we celebrate with him and all Ugandans at Kololo Airstrip and also visit State House to have a meal with him. I would be the happies person.
Joel Khizire, St Peter’s Primary School Nsambya, P.6
I only celebrated my birthday once in 2005 because then, my father had money. Now he does not work so I will not celebrate it. I would love to get any gift on my birthday to feel special and loved.
Brian Chothembu Onen Rwoth,
Police Children School Kibuli, P.7
Though my birthday is a very important day in Uganda, I do not celebrate it because we do not celebrate birthdays at our home. Organising a party is very expensive and my parents do not have that money. I therefore spend my birthday like other days.
Sharon Naisanga, St. Peter’s Primary School Nsambya, P.6
On this day my mummy treats me like a queen. She prepares my favourite meal; chicken and rice. We also have soda. I enjoy it very much. I like this day because offices and schools are not open. I always tell my friends that I am a very important person and that it is because of me that they have not gone to school on that day.
Ruth Nansere,
Railway Children Primary School, P.6
Because I am my parents’ only child, they buy for me very many nice things on my birthday. They also buy for me whatever I ask them to buy for me. This time I want a cake with colors of the Uganda flag so that I combine my birthday with Independence Day.
Kenneth Okiror, St Peters’ Primary School Nsambya, P.6
I am very happy because my birthday marked the end of colonial rule in Uganda. This means that whoever was born on this day will be a very important person in future.
Paul Kibirango, St Peter’s Primary School Nsambya, P.5
Ever since my father died, I do not celebrate my birthday because there is no one at home to throw for me a party. On this day, he used to buy meat, rice, matooke and soda and we would eat as a family. I miss my birthday because nowadays it is just a normal day.
Jonathan Mabandha, Police Children School, Kibuli, P.4