Museveni hails heroes as Uganda marks 40 years of liberation

26 January 2026, 9:14 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

On February 26, 1986, the then National Resistance Army (NRA), led by General Yoweri Museveni, captured power after defeating government forces under the leadership of Tito Okello Lutwa. It is against this background that the day is annually commemorated across the country as Liberation Day.

This year, the celebrations were held at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, where religious, cultural and political leaders, together with members of the general public, gathered to witness the 40th anniversary of Uganda’s liberation. President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), was the chief guest.

In his address, President Museveni paid tribute to the heroes who endured immense suffering to secure victory and bring stability to the country. He later presided over a military parade and encouraged Ugandans to actively participate in the money economy through four key sectors, including agriculture, ICT, services and manufacturing.

“Since 1986, Uganda has gone through five phases of economic recovery, starting with restoring stability, followed by diversification and value addition. Today, we are firmly in the knowledge economy, with growth anchored in agriculture, manufacturing, services and the emerging oil and gas sector,” Museveni said.

He noted that manufacturing now supplies about 65 percent of goods in Ugandan supermarkets, while agriculture and services continue to create wealth. He also highlighted milestones such as Kiira vehicles already on the roads and the start of oil production near Lake Albert later this year.

Commenting on the recent elections, the President said that although he received eight million votes, many of his supporters did not turn up due to intimidation, violence and internal indiscipline. He emphasized the need to address these challenges to improve participation, maintain stability and ensure that all Ugandans are fully involved in the country’s transformation.

Dignitaries who attended the event commended the UPDF for maintaining peace and security in the country and urged leaders of the armed forces to address challenges affecting soldiers, including welfare concerns, to prevent frustration within the ranks.

The Minister of State for Lands and Urban Development, Hon. Sam Mayanja, said that since 1986, Ugandans have enjoyed peace and called upon citizens to preserve it by avoiding acts that undermine stability. On the issue of land grabbing, the minister pledged that government would intensify the fight against the vice during this term and assured the public of visible change.

Medal recipients also expressed gratitude to the government for recognizing and honouring their contribution to Uganda’s liberation.