Why Heroes' Day in Uganda should still be celebrated

Heroes' Day is marked on June 9 in memory of different people who supported the Bush war that ushered in peace in 1986. New Vision spoke to some Ugandans on whether the day is still worth celebrating.

Muwanga Lutaaya, NRM spokesperson Wakiso district

It is worth to be celebrated because of the fruits that every citizen is enjoying today. I appreciate the Uganda People's Defence Force for the fruits of their sacrifice.

For through their sacrifice we have the Constitution, security and democracy because citizens can vote for their leaders from village level through Parliament up to the President.

It is good to celebrate Heroes' Day, how I wish every Ugandan would celebrate Heroes' Day in their homes.

Those who think it should not be celebrated are blindfolded people who do not know the history of their country.

Mastulah Naava Nakibuule, youth leader in Gomba district

Heroes' Day comes from the word ‘Hero', someone who sacrifices his or her life for the nation.

Not every person can sacrifice this life for other people to have a peaceful country.

It is, therefore, vital to celebrate those who never minded about their lives but instead sacrificed it for us to enjoy our country.

For the young leaders, I feel that Heroes' Day celebration teaches us determination, enthusiasm and zeal.

Brendah Nakazi, nurse

Heroes' Day should be celebrated every year because of the peace that we are observing. Only that this year the focus should be on the improvement of the health sector.

More health centres should be strengthened and supported to help in the fight against Coronavirus.

Elijah Sekinkwa, businessman

Heroes' Day should be celebrated by rewarding the health workers who have been at the centre of this pandemic because they have worked tirelessly to ensure that COVID-19 patients are treated and cured.

Regina Kalungi, woman youth council representative, Jinja municipality

I am so glad that there are no gatherings in this period. Let the money which would have been used for celebrations be injected in the small businesses we are trying to start up in this period.

Mackline Ashaba, housewife

Heroes' Day is the only way we understand and recognise Ugandans who have done great deeds for their country.

How else can we know them if it is not through this day? So, it is necessary to keep celebrating and commemorating personalities for their achievements.

Richard Kalibbala, farmer

It is good to celebrate and honour personalities on Heroes' Day but I also request the Government to also recognise farmers from each district that have given the youth jobs.

Abas Mukeeze, comedian

I personally do not think Heroes' Day needs to be celebrated because why do we invest in the celebrations and yet families of these heroes are starving. It is better to use part of this money to benefit families of the heroes and their relatives.

Stephen Mukasa, national spokesperson Generation Seven

Heroes' Day is worth being celebrated because we remember those patriotic country men and women with pride because they did not die in vain.

Through these patriotic country men and women we were able to have the current National Resistance Movement Government under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni. He has made commendable efforts to uphold the democracy, health, security, education, infrastructure development and education and education for all as a strategic foundation of Uganda's develop.

Jude Mbabaali, Chairman Masaka District Local Government

Heroes' Day in Uganda is mainly celebrating the lives of who contributed to the NRM liberation war and are few in the recovery of Uganda.

But we need to look for new heroes who are not necessarily related to the NRM struggle. For example, a well-qualified doctor or teacher or lawyer who chooses to sacrifice for the public good should be a hero.

There should be an established politically, neutral and National Heroes Commission which is tasked with studying and recommend national heroes to be recognised for their character and contributions to the country.

Margaret Mbeiza, Woman MP Kaliro District

It is worth it for Heroes' Day to be celebrated because we pay tribute to the people who exemplified and defended the highest values of patriotism and sacrifice for the wellbeing of the country and its citizens.

Among the heroic values that give us the reason to celebrate Heroes' Day are patriotism, sacrifice, integrity, acts of bravery, truthfulness and love for the country.

The idea for celebrating such an important day is to remember both the living and the departed heroes for the tree of liberty and freedom was watered by their blood, no doubts, questions it is a debt we can neither pay nor forget.

Also the idea behind this important celebration is to preserve, protect and propagate the precious inheritance in the name of liberty our heroes and heroine left.

Martha Kugonza, social worker

Heroes' Day deserves to be celebrated especially those who lost their lives because these are people who had families, people who loved them and who they loved but they chose to stand for what they believed for the greater good of the country and for generations of others who they would meet. They deserve our ululations.

On Heroes Day we celebrate their achievements that we benefit from even today.

The heroes serve as a source of inspiration to the young generation that is miserably trapped in many vices such as corruption. It is from the heroes that we learn to be selfless and upload the value of integrity which is quickly dying off today.

Angela Nalugwa, law student

It is worth to be celebrated because it honours the heroes who lost their lives for the nation.

The heroes dedicated their lives, freedom, safe guarding lives and well-being not for their families or relatives but for the entire nation.

We celebrate the people who sacrificed their lives for others.

We honour and celebrate the memory of those who paid the ultimate price as it is a high degree of courage and it is fair enough to recognise those citizens whose contribution to the nation is beyond measure.

Mary Babirye Kabanda, Masaka Woman MP

They have never identified any Democratic Party hero. They have ended up giving the medals to only National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporter which has killed the essence of the real meaning of Heroes Day.