The Office of the National Chairman (ONC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has urged Ugandans to protect the country’s peace and stability, saying political independence can only be meaningful when citizens are able to enjoy freedom, security and development.
Addressing the media on Tuesday October 6, 2026, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo the ONC Manager said Uganda’s attainment of political independence from Britain on October 9, 1962, was an important milestone, but argued that the country’s subsequent history demonstrated that political freedom alone was not enough to guarantee peace and stability.
“Uganda attained political independence on 9th October 1962. But the painful reality is that independence did not immediately give Ugandans peace, military security and stability,” she said.
She cited the political crises, military coups, dictatorship and prolonged armed conflicts that characterised parts of Uganda’s post-independence history, saying the experience should remind citizens of the importance of safeguarding peace.
Namyalo said the NRM’s liberation struggle, which brought President Yoweri Museveni to power in 1986, was a response to what she described as an increasingly unstable and divided country.
“When President Museveni assumed leadership in 1986, he inherited a country deeply damaged by years of conflict and political turmoil,” she said.
According to Namyalo, President Museveni’s vision was not merely to take power but to restore the country, establish peace and security, rebuild institutions and create conditions in which Ugandans could meaningfully enjoy the independence attained in 1962.
“That is why we say that 1962 gave Uganda political independence, but the NRM under President Museveni gave that independence a stronger foundation of peace, stability and national reconstruction,” she said.
She said peace, security and stability remain central to the enjoyment of individual freedoms and the pursuit of national development.
“Without peace, independence becomes only a word. Without security, freedom cannot be enjoyed. Without stability, development cannot be sustained,” she said.
Namyalo also urged Ugandans to acknowledge the space available for political participation and debate, while emphasising the need to protect the country from actions that could undermine its stability.
“Today, Ugandans can debate, criticise government and participate in politics because the country has created a political environment in which that freedom can be exercised,” she said.
She called on citizens to reflect on Uganda’s history as they celebrate Independence Day, saying political differences should not obscure the need to preserve national stability.
“We may disagree politically, but we must not forget where Uganda came from,” she said.
Namyalo further turned to Uganda’s natural resources, particularly oil, urging the country to ensure that the anticipated wealth from its petroleum resources benefits the wider population.
“The discovery of our treasure, oil in Uganda, has to benefit us all,” she said, adding that the country’s natural resources should be managed responsibly.
She also called for humility and responsibility among leaders, saying the future of Uganda would depend on leaders who understand the responsibility entrusted to them.
“These words remind us that the Uganda of tomorrow requires wisdom, humility and leaders who understand the weight of the responsibility entrusted to them,” she said.
As the country prepares to mark 64 years of independence, Namyalo urged Ugandans to celebrate peacefully and reflect on how to preserve the gains made while ensuring that Uganda’s natural resources contribute to the wellbeing of its people.
“Let us celebrate independence, with a clear mind, peaceful thoughts and stability that have enabled our independence to become meaningful,” she said.
She concluded by urging Ugandans to protect the country’s achievements and ensure that its natural resources, including oil, become a blessing to all citizens.
