Kampala readies for jubilee celebrations

By Joseph Kizza

Preparations to celebrate Uganda’s 50 years of independence slated for October 9 in Uganda's capital Kampala are in full gear.

With only less than a week left now, Ugandans are more than ever drowned in an atmosphere of anticipation ahead of the jubilee celebrations.

What is known is that there will be national (jubilee) prayers held at Namboole Stadium a few days before the D-day.

The biggest sports facility in the country is undergoing major repairs.

A few days after the planned jubilee prayers, the stadium will then host a crucial Nations Cup game between the Uganda Cranes and the current continental champions, Zambia.

But there has been some public outcry over the matter.

Some people think that it is not a good idea for the national prayers to take place at the stadium as, they say, it will damage the turf that has just been worked on.

The stadium management says it will limit the congregration to the stands to avoid people from wandering off on to the grass.

Major patch-up work is also being done in and around the city, more especially on the roads.

The media is awash with content on a wide range of Uganda's history towards, during and after independence.

With some mindful of the security threat that such a wide-scale event can attract, police has come out to calm such concerns, at the same time calling on the public to be security-conscious.

Police has said it has put in place measures to ensure that security is tight in every point where people will be gathered as possible.

The Kale Kayihura-led police force also banned members of the opposition from holding public rallies before the Jubilee celebrations are over.

But the opposition has since decried the ban.

On Monday, chaos erupted at different points of the city when some members of the opposition clashed with security operatives.

Police took fort at FDC leader Kizza Besigye's home in Kasangati after learning that he planned to hold a rally at the constitutional square.

But some moments later, it was said the elusive politician had managed to get out of his besieged home unnoticed.

Police later intercepted him in town as he tried to address his supporters at Kiseka Market, arrested him and took him to Central Police Station in Kampala.

Other members like Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago were stopped short in there newly christened 'walk to freedom' campaign.