President Yoweri Museveni has used this year’s Heroes Day commemorations to reflect on Uganda’s liberation struggle, the sacrifices made during the bush war, and the country’s current economic priorities, urging citizens to fully participate in the money economy.
In a message to Ugandans, Museveni said the 9th of June 1981 remains a symbolic date representing the hundreds of thousands who lost their lives during the conflict, particularly in the Luweero Triangle.
“Fellow Ugandans, on this Heroes Day, we remember the immense sacrifices made by our people in the struggle for freedom. The 9th of June 1981 was chosen to represent the hundreds of thousands who were killed, especially in the Luweero Triangle,” Museveni said.
He added that the scale of loss was so significant that post-war recovery efforts included collecting human remains from mass graves as a reminder of the violence endured during the conflict.
“After the war, we collected skulls from 32 communal graves as a reminder of the atrocities our people endured,” he stated.
The President recalled the conditions that led to the armed struggle, saying Uganda was facing severe political and economic collapse at the time, with weakened governance structures and widespread insecurity.
He noted that for nearly two decades, citizens were denied the opportunity to freely choose their leaders.
“When we went to the bush, Uganda was facing a profound crisis. The economy had collapsed, governance had broken down, insecurity was rampant, and for 18 years, Ugandans had been denied the opportunity to freely elect their leaders,” he said.
Museveni said the National Resistance Army’s objectives were centered on restoring democracy, improving security, rebuilding the economy, and stabilising the country.
He also paid tribute to both civilian and armed veterans who participated in the liberation struggle, as well as families of fallen fighters.
“I thank the civilian and armed veterans who joined us in this struggle and helped achieve these goals. I also salute the families of those heroes who are no longer with us,” he said.
Looking ahead, Museveni said the country’s priority now is economic transformation, urging households to actively engage in income-generating activities and integrate into the formal money economy.