By Infora Media
Kampala, Uganda — As Uganda marked 40 years since the 1986 Liberation, the message from national leaders was clear: peace, discipline and economic inclusion remain the country’s most valuable assets and the foundation of its future progress.
Speaking days after the Liberation Day celebrations, the Head of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, said the anniversary was not just a moment of reflection, but a reminder of the choices Uganda continues to make to safeguard stability.
Addressing journalists at her Kyambogo office, Namyalo said President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership has delivered a rare record of sustained peace in a region still affected by conflict. She warned that stability should never be taken for granted, citing ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan as evidence of what happens when peace collapses.
“Political stability is the starting point for economic transformation,” Namyalo said, noting that without peace, development plans fail and livelihoods suffer.
She cautioned political actors against mobilising through confrontation and post-election unrest, arguing that such actions undermine national progress and expose the country to destabilisation. Namyalo urged leaders and citizens to honour the sacrifices of 1986 by prioritising national unity over personal ambition, saying true patriotism today means protecting peace and focusing on wealth creation.
Her remarks followed President Museveni’s address at Kololo Independence Grounds during Liberation Day celebrations held under the theme of honouring patriots who ushered in fundamental change. The event came shortly after the President was declared winner of the recent presidential elections with 71 percent of the vote.
In his speech, Museveni thanked Ugandans for a peaceful electoral process but expressed concern over low voter turnout among some NRM supporters, partly due to intimidation and internal indiscipline.
Turning to the economy, the President said about 70 percent of Ugandans are now participating in the money economy, up from a small fraction at independence. He cited programmes such as Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model, while warning against misuse of funds and promising stricter enforcement.
Both Museveni and Namyalo said Uganda’s future depends on unity, vigilance and inclusive economic growth anchored in peace.