EDITOR
Leaders and residents of Greater Kabale joined the rest of the country on Monday to mark Liberation Day, commemorating 40 years since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) assumed power in 1986, with calls for deeper reflection on governance, service delivery, and the future of Uganda.
Speaking during the commemoration, Kabale District NRM Chairperson Bridget Asiinga described the day as an important moment to appreciate the peace and stability the country has enjoyed over the past four decades. She attributed the relative calm in the country to what she termed consistent leadership under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, urging Ugandans to safeguard national unity and security.
Asiinga noted that continued public support for the NRM reflects citizens’ desire for peace and freedom, adding that stability has created space for development initiatives across different sectors.
However, leaders from across the political divide emphasized that Liberation Day should also serve as a moment of honest self-assessment. Kabale District NRM Spokesperson Turyahebwa Edison, also known as Political, said the milestone offers an opportunity to evaluate achievements and gaps, citing improvements in infrastructure, education, and community livelihood programs such as the Parish Development Model and the Youth Livelihood Programme.
Turyahebwa pointed out that road upgrades across the Kigezi sub-region have enhanced trade and movement, while the expansion of government-aided schools has increased access to education at the grassroots.
Opposition leaders, while acknowledging the gains in peace and security, used the occasion to call for stronger accountability and improved service delivery. UPC Greater Kabale Chairperson Wilkins Arineitwe said Liberation Day should remind leaders of their responsibility to fight corruption and ensure public resources benefit ordinary citizens.
Similarly, FDC Kabale District Chairperson Aine Jercy welcomed the continued stability in the country but urged government leaders to address concerns of corruption, transparency, and equitable access to public services.
Liberation Day, marked annually on January 26, commemorates the events of 1986 that brought the NRM to power. This year’s celebration is held under the theme: “Reflecting on 40 Years of NRM Leadership, Peace, Unity, and Socio-Economic Transformation, as the Government Renews Its Commitment to Building a Stable and Prosperous Uganda.”
