“Liberated from what?”
This is one of the questions I have seen all over social media at every mention of the NRM Liberation Day.
“Liberation, considering hundreds of comments on social media, is everybody getting what they think they want or have been promised. Or in other words, liberation amounts to being free from things one don’t like, to have what he/she approves of as a citizen of the country.
At this time every year, the country marks the events of January 26, 1986, when the military junta was overthrown by the National Resistance Army following a five-year civil war.
This particular year, the celebrations have been graced in Masindi under the theme, ‘Uganda’s success story under NRM leadership, a shared victory’.
“On the 20th of February 1984, the NRM scored a big victory here, led by General Saleh and other commanders. This is because we captured a lot of equipment here, and turn around the history of this country. ” The president told celebrants in Masindi on Thursday.
Minister for Presidency, Esther Mbayo while giving her speech wished everybody could be in this district to celebrate this achievement.
Amb. Henry Mayega, Uganda’s Deputy Head of Mission in China told reporters, “The progress made in the health and education sectors speaks volumes. Over 1,400 health centres have been built countrywide, major hospitals (including Mulago Referral Hospital) have been renovated and new ones built. There has been an astronomical increase in the number of universities, tertiary institutions and schools; it is planned that each sub county will have a secondary school and a Health Centre IV. ”
While some reverence this day, others especially the youth and those who do not profess the NRM ideology long for rescue from what they say is rather 31-year-old bondage. The longing for fundamental change of power, state policies and decisions is rather undeniable.
“As we celebrate the so-called liberation day, a great number of Ugandans yearn for liberation from poverty; inequality, a sick healthcare system, a divided education system, injustice, and the list goes on and on.” a one Vincent Vessy Nuwagaba told the Daily Monitor, emphasizing that his contention about today was triggered 0n Sunday when his church announcement there would be no lunch hour mass January 26, for it is Liberation Day.
“From a human rights angle, there is no scintilla respect and observance of socio-economic rights. It is as if the state exists not to redistribute welfare but to exploit the citizens that it should protect.” Nuwagaba said.
editor@ugchristiannews.com
