KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to honour the men and women who sacrificed their lives during the country’s liberation struggles, saying their contribution should remain a source of inspiration for present and future generations.
The President said a country that forgets its fallen warriors risks losing an important part of its national identity.
Mr Museveni made the remarks in a speech delivered on his behalf by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during the Spiritual Revival of the Fallen Warriors ceremony held at the Office of the NRM National Chairman in Kyambogo on Monday.
He said major transformations in society are often achieved through the sacrifice and commitment of individuals who place the interests of their country above personal gain.
“We all understand that the heroes of Uganda are not only those who took to the battlefield, but the many supporters of the struggle, mostly the peasants,” he said.
Mr Museveni said Uganda’s liberation was the result of a prolonged struggle against successive dictatorships and that the contribution of ordinary Ugandans was central to the eventual outcome.
He said the men and women who sacrificed their lives were driven by a vision that went beyond personal interests.
“We will forever remember them because, as I always say, a country that forgets its fallen warriors loses its soul,” he said.
The President challenged Ugandans to honour the fallen not only through prayer and remembrance but also through hard work, honesty and patriotism.
“Every Ugandan, by their contribution, however modest, is expected to take as their duty the obligation to build Uganda through hard and honest work, as to pay vigil and eternal tribute to our fallen warriors and champions,” he said.
He urged the current generation to become role models for those who will come after them, saying the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle helped restore the dignity of Uganda and its people.
Mr Museveni said the country had undergone significant transformation since 1986 and attributed the progress to the sacrifices of the liberation forces and the leadership of the National Resistance Movement.
“The National Resistance Movement secured the sanctity of human life and shall jealously protect it,” he said.
According to the President, the NRM laid foundations for Uganda’s political and economic recovery, enabling the country to regain its standing and engage with the international community with greater confidence.
“I therefore emphasise that concretising the gains of our fallen warriors is a duty of every Ugandan, and it begins with you,” he said.
Different phases, different heroes
Mr Museveni said Uganda’s liberation and nation-building journey should be viewed as a process that passed through different phases, with each stage producing individuals whose commitment and contribution left a lasting mark on the country.
He said some of these individuals belonged to a rare generation of African revolutionaries whose sacrifices helped shape the country’s history.
The President called on young Ugandans and the wider public to study the history of the liberation struggle to better understand the meaning of heroism and distinguish genuine sacrifice from personal ambition.
He encouraged Ugandans to read his account of the liberation struggle, Sowing the Mustard Seed, including its second edition, alongside other historical works.
Mr Museveni said the ultimate measure of heroism was not material reward but the willingness to make the greatest sacrifice for what one believes to be a noble cause.
He said the liberation fighters who went into battle knew they could lose their lives, but remained confident that those who survived would carry on the struggle.
“The motivation in this case is the conviction that you are dying for a noble cause, and knowing that those who pick your gun as you fall will finally win,” he said.
‘Uganda has come far’
Reflecting on Uganda’s journey since the liberation struggle, Mr Museveni said the peace and stability enjoyed by the country had come at a considerable cost.
“The peace and stability that the country continues to enjoy was hard earned by a lot of sacrifices and bloodshed,” he said.
He urged Ugandans to protect the gains made over the years and ensure that the sacrifices of those who came before them translate into continued national development.
“Uganda has come far. It is unstoppable. We look back with pride,” Mr Museveni said.