CELEBRATIONS MARKING THE 33rdNRM/NRA VICTORY DAY
ANNIVERSARY: 26TH JANUARY 2019
Members of the press gathered here, I take this opportunity to announce that on the
26th January 2019, Uganda will celebrate the 33 rd NRM/NRA Victory Day
Anniversary. Indeed, this a gazette public holiday. This year’s celebrations are
going to take place in Muwafu Primary School Grounds, Nabuyoga Sub County,
Tororo District.
Our theme is : “A moment of glory that set a new Chapter for Unity, Peace and
Prosperity in Uganda”. His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the president of
republic of Uganda will be the Guest of Honour. He will be accompanied by very
important dignitaries from within the country and outside Uganda.
Preparations are in high gear both at the national level and at the host district which
is Tororo. Ugandans are therefore invited to come over to Tororo and join the
president to celebrate this critical day in the history of Uganda. Ugandans from all
walks of life and from all political groupings are invited.
People are expected to begin arriving in Muwafu Primary School Grounds at 7: am.
There will various forms of entertainment befitting this important day.
The President will among many functions that he is expected to preside over offer
different categories of medals to 114 Ugandans who have offered distinguished
services but most importantly those that have sacrificed to protect and defend
motherland Uganda. This is a form of appreciating Ugandans who move an extra
mile to offer a unique service to their motherland.
Why is January 26th so special in the history of Uganda
In January 26th 1986, Ugandans woke up to great news when it was announced on
Radio Uganda that Yoweri Museveni who had led a protracted people’s war had
captured Kampala and overthrown the then fascist regime of the UNLA. Ugandans
especially those that are above 40 years remember vividly how much political mess
was occasioned to Ugandans by the previous regimes.
The liberation war which was fought between 1981-86 should not be seen as an end
in itself. Rather, it was a moment of glory in which the People of Uganda opened a
new chapter to rescue themselves from dictatorship and misrule. The then total
terrorism which engulfed our country had bred secondary vices such as: tribalism
and sectarianism ideologies. This created a legacy of bad politics, poor governance,
disastrous social development philosophies and practices. It also led to an economic
system that entrenched a vicious cycle of poverty and dependency. As a result
Ugandans were reduced to a countless economic embarrassments that made our
country survive on hand outs from well-wishers.
Both the ardent critic and passionate supporter of the NRM across the broader
political spectrum agree that significant progress has been made. This has not come
about by miracle, but rather, on account of a calculated, well thought out and shared
NRM Vision namely: “a unified, peaceful and prosperous country.” Block by
block, the NRM has been working tirelessly to achieve this Vision. Certainly, there
is still much to be done, but there is also much more to cause a celebratory mood in
the progress made towards a unified, peaceful and prosperous country. These
achievements are exemplified in some key sectors below:
In the 33 years, the NRM government introduced participatory democracy where
power was given back to the people. We have also continued to witness regular,
free and fair elections at National, Parliamentary and Local Council level. The
recently held Local Council I elections in July 2018, was one of such examples! In
these elections, the people freely and transparently demonstrated their right to
determine who and how they shall be led.
Uganda continues to enjoy unprecedented peace and stability, within her borders,
under the NRM regime. In line with the NRM ideology of Pan-Africanism, Uganda
has continued to provide a significant contribution towards sustainable peace, unity
and development within the region. The contribution of Ugandan women and men
in Uniform, to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has been effective
in the pacification of Somalia.
Owing to the sustained peace within the boundaries of Uganda, the country has
become a safe haven for refugees fleeing conflict around the region. Consequently,
Uganda is the largest refugee holding country in Africa and fifth in the world1.
On the social service sector, Uganda continues to register impressive growth. The
literacy rate for Ugandans increased from 54 percent in 1991 to 72.2 percent in
2014.2This has been made possible with the introduction of Universal Primary
Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE). Government has
continued to construct seed schools in sub-counties without a Government secondary
school.
New water mains per annum have increased from less than 100km in 2013 to over
1000 km per annum currently. As at September 2018, the total network length was
14,838.56 km. Water coverage and sanitation by National Water & Sewerage
Corporation (NWSC) covers 238 towns3. Service to less-advantaged communities,
through installation of Public Stand Posts (public taps) is now at 1000 km per annum,
compared to 100 km before 2014.
In terms of provision of bulky water for production, a number of irrigation schemes
have been improved and water storage capacity increased from 38.86 million m3 in
June 2017 to 39.32 million m3 in June 2018.
.
A recent Uganda Bureau of Statistic (UBOS) report released in December 2018,
indicated that, Uganda’s economy expanded by 6.8% in the first quarter of FY
2018/19. This expansion was occasioned by stellar performance in remittances from
Ugandans abroad, industry, services, tourism and agriculture. For example, a 2018
World Bank report indicated that our countrymen / women abroad remitted USD
1.24bn4. This demonstrates increased confidence of Ugandans that home is the best
investment destination. However, a review of information from the National Budget
Framework Paper for FY 2019/20 revealed that, our exports had risen from USD4.8
bn in FY 2016/17, to USD 5.3 bn in FY 2017/18. The Paper further emphasized
that, Uganda registered, for the 5th year in a row, a significant trade surplus of USD
472 million with countries in the EAC.
As a country, we have massively invested in infrastructural development to spur our
industrial revolution that will make Uganda a modern state by 2040. The investment
in Hydropower dams at Karuma, Isimba, Bujagali etc and road networks are pointers
to this vision of building a modern state. Tororo which was once a quiet town is
now becoming an active industrial hub hosting many cement factories, a multibillion
phosphate plant at Sukulu etc.
The incremental growth in every sector of Uganda has been well articulated by our
president in the various fora where he has engaged Ugandans. Figures are availed
and they speak volumes. Ugandans now rightly agree that we are having a steady
progress indeed.
In conclusion, the NRM Government appreciates that, the many achievements
notwithstanding, some work remains to be done. Certainly, the need to invest
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heavily in encouraging a mindset shift away from a passive attitude of dependency
to one of self-sufficiency, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Our rallying point
should now increasingly focus on developing and nurturing a national value system
to change citizens’ mindsets, promote patriotism, enhance national identity and
nurture a conducive ideological orientation.
Wishing you a Happy New Year 2019 and Happy National Celebrations!
