The Office of the National Chairman (ONC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has urged Ugandans to use the country's 64th Independence anniversary to reflect on the importance of peace, stability and national development.
In an Independence message issued on Tuesday, October 6, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, Manager of the Office of the National Chairman, said Uganda's attainment of political independence on October 9, 1962, did not immediately usher in lasting peace and security.
SPA Namyalo said Uganda's history should serve as a guide as the country looks to the future, stressing that political independence can only have meaning when it is supported by peace, security and stability.
She attributed the NRM's coming to power in 1986 to efforts aimed at restoring peace, rebuilding state institutions and creating an environment for national reconstruction.
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"When President Museveni assumed leadership in 1986, he inherited a country deeply damaged by years of conflict and political turmoil," Namyalo said.
She explained that the NRM's liberation struggle was not merely about capturing political power but, according to the party's account, about restoring Uganda and creating conditions under which citizens could enjoy the independence attained in 1962.
"That is why we say that 1962 gave Uganda political independence, but the NRM under President Museveni gave that independence a stronger foundation of peace, stability and national reconstruction," she said.
Hajjat Namyalo said peace, stability and development were closely linked, arguing that without peace, independence could remain only a political concept, while insecurity threatens freedom and instability makes sustained development difficult.
She also called on Ugandans to acknowledge the progress made since 1986 while remaining conscious of the country's past.
"Today, Ugandans can debate, criticise government and participate in politics because the country has created a political environment in which that freedom can be exercised," she said.
Chief Muzzukulu, however, warned against actions that could threaten the country's stability and urged Ugandans to safeguard what she described as the gains achieved over the years.
She also called for Uganda's natural resources, particularly oil, to be managed in a way that benefits all citizens.
"The discovery of our treasure oil in Uganda has to benefit us all, not to be turned messy," she said.
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She further used the Independence occasion to appeal for humility and responsibility among leaders, saying Uganda's future depends on leaders who appreciate the weight of the responsibility entrusted to them.
Namyalo urged Ugandans to commemorate the anniversary through peaceful reflection and a renewed commitment to preserving national stability.
"Let us celebrate independence, with a clear mind, peaceful thoughts and stability that have enabled our independence to become meaningful," she said.
She concluded by calling on Ugandans to protect the country's achievements and ensure that its natural resources become a blessing to all citizens.
Uganda will mark 64 years of independence on October 9, 2026. Historical accounts indicate that the country experienced political crises, military coups and periods of armed conflict in the years that followed independence.
