Before 1986, Uganda was plagued by widespread insecurity, resulting in the loss of countless lives and properties. Many Ugandans were forced into exile, severely impacting the economy and leading to extreme poverty.
That forced the National Resistance Army (now the National Resistance Movement) to launch a bush war in the 1980s and ultimately took power from the Tito Okello Lutwa government in 1986, leading to Yoweri Kaguta Museveni being sworn in as Uganda’s revolutionary president.
On Sunday, January 26, 2025 Uganda will be celebrating its 39 years of liberation in Mubende district, a national holiday that marks the occasion when the National Resistance Movement captured power.
As Uganda gears up for the celebrations under the theme; “Salutations for those who re-sanctified our homeland’’ ,a lot of achievements have been realized especially in Governance and accountability, education and social economic transformation, peace and security, industrialization and mechanized agriculture, healthcare, tourism to mention but a few.
Uganda has since become peaceful not only in the east African region but also has exported it to the entire African continent. In 2013, the UPDF intervened in South Sudan to stop the threatening genocide. They also intervened in the Central African Republic to pursue and hunt down LRA rebels who constantly raided the vulnerable locals in Northern Uganda.
The UPDF in 2009 went on a mission to fight the Alshabab and restore the failed state of Somalia. Currently, UPDF is in DR. Congo to hunt the Allied Defence Force (ADF) who have made Congo a hiding place alongside the M23 rebels.
At least in every sub county there is an upgrading of Health Center IIIs (HCIIIs) to Health Center IVs (HCIVs): According to statistics from the ministry of health ten HCIIIs have been upgraded to HCIVs across the country, including Kawuanzeki HCIII, Bondo HCIII in Arua, Bugaya HCIII in Buyende, Palabek-kal in Lamwo, Mayuge HCIV, Rwebisengo HCIV in Bundibugyo, Panyandoli HCIV in Kiryandongo, Rugyeyo in Kanungu, Rute.
The NRM Government made it a point to equip fourteen regional referral hospitals with CT scans which include Arua, Entebbe, Fort Portal, Gulu, Hoima, Jinja, Kabale, Lira, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Mubende, Mbarara, and Soroti.
In 1986, Uganda’s national road network included 1,900 kilometers of tarmacked roads, but only 114 kilometers were in fair condition, while the remaining 1,786 kilometers were in poor shape. As a result, the government prioritized infrastructure development to lower production costs, increasing the length of tarmacked roads from 3,000 kilometers to 6,338 kilometers—now accounting for over 30% of the country’s total road network.
Water transport; Ferry crossings also increased from two to nine, which has contributed to the improvement of transport to areas accessed by water.
As we commemorate this year’s 39th Liberation Day, it’s vital we reflect on the journey towards prosperity and development. Through resilience and unity, Uganda has achieved remarkable milestones, transforming challenges into opportunities. As the theme goes that honouring the heroes who reclaimed our Homeland, it’s incumbent on us to sustainably continue making Uganda a better place for each and every one regardless of one’s political ideology.
