By Steven Candia

OVER 90 people, both civilians and soldiers were awarded medals at the 47th Independence celebrations at the Kololo Ceremonial grounds yesterday.

Though the Master of Ceremony of the Chancery Gen. Elly Tumwine at the beginning of the ceremony said a total of 83 people would be honoured, it later turned out that up 97 of them were honoured with either the prestigious Nalubaale or Luwero Triangle Award.

President Museveni personally decorated the first five nominees and left senior army officials to decorate the rest.

While the Nalubaale award is given to civilian activists who contributed to the political development of Uganda through armed struggles or civil disobedience, the Luweero Triangle medal is awarded as climax of the armed struggle of the people of Uganda to army officers who joined the struggle against dictatorship or civilians who worked closely with freedom fighters against the dictatorships, Tumwine said.

Of the 97 who received medals at the public ceremony, 39 people among them Maumbe Mukhwana of Mbale, Isreal Kayongo, Rhoda Kalema and Christine Muhindo, a Presidential Assistant in charge mobilisation western Uganda, were honoured with the Nalubaale medal. Also in the category was Mzee Lusiano Kerifa, who was honoured posthumously, having passed away a fortnight ago. His son Brig. Peter Kerim received the medal on his behalf.

Those in this category were honoured for their contribution to the political development of this country between 1981 and 1986.

Another seven people among them Prince Juuko Walugembe and Olive Zzizinga received Honorary ranks under the Luweero medal along side 51 army officers, ranging from the rank of Lieutenant to Colonels.

Tumwine said those recognize yesterday were part of an earlier list of over 3000 people who President Museveni approved to receive the three medals––Nalubaale–Luweero and Damu medals. Part of those on the list were awarded medals during the Heroes Day celebrations in Hoima.

“The purpose is to encourage patriotism so that Ugandans are willing to sacrifice for our country and do what it takes to make our country a better place,” Tumwine said, adding that more people on the list will be honoured at future functions.

“This function will continue at many public functions given that there are many names and we are picking just a few. We can not read all of them on one occasion. We shall be serialising them,” he said.

He appealed to the public to forward names of people they think qualify to be awarded.

“If you know of any person who you think deserves being given medals contained in the Act, you are free to suggest those names and send them to our Chancery of the Presidential Awards Committee on Bauman House,” Tumwine said.