By Bonny Otucu (Assistant Resident City Commissioner, Lira City)
Every 9th October, Uganda pauses to remember one of the most important moments in our national history the day in 1962 when the Union Jack was lowered and the Ugandan flag was raised, marking the end of British colonial rule and the birth of an independent Uganda.
Sixty-four years later, Independence Day remains much more than a national celebration. It is an opportunity to reflect on where we have come from, where we are today and, most importantly, where we want to take our country.
Independence gave Ugandans the right to determine their own political destiny. Before 1962, major decisions affecting our country were ultimately made within a colonial system. With independence came the responsibility to govern ourselves, build our institutions and determine our own development priorities.
The years that followed, however, were not without challenges. Uganda experienced political instability, constitutional changes, military rule, economic difficulties and periods of conflict that interrupted the country’s development journey.
Our history therefore teaches us that achieving political independence is one thing; protecting, strengthening and giving meaning to that independence is another. A country can have its own flag, anthem and government and yet remain vulnerable if its institutions are weak, its economy is dependent, its citizens are poor and its people are divided.
It is against this historical background that the emergence of the National Resistance Movement in the 1980s must also be understood. The NRM/NRA came to power in January 1986 after a five-year armed struggle. The movement’s historical account presents that struggle as an effort to end political instability and restore constitutional governance and security. The post-1986 government subsequently embarked on rebuilding state institutions and returning the country to a constitutional path, culminating in the 1995 Constitution.
The liberation struggle therefore forms an important chapter in Uganda’s continuing search for stability and development. The NRM’s political narrative has consistently connected the 1981–1986 struggle with the restoration of peace, security and economic recovery. At the same time, Uganda’s broader history reminds us that the country’s story did not begin in 1986, just as it did not end in 1962. Every generation has contributed, in different ways, to the Uganda we know today.
Whatever one’s political affiliation may be, our political history should be studied objectively because it provides lessons for the present and the future. Political parties and movements will come and go, but Uganda remains our permanent home. Our political differences should therefore never become more important than the country itself.
For me, this is where the deeper meaning of Independence Day lies. Independence should not only be understood as freedom from colonial rule. It should also mean the ability of Ugandans to progressively become masters of their own economic destiny. Political freedom becomes more meaningful when a family can afford decent housing, when a young person can acquire skills and find productive work, when a farmer can produce for the market and earn a reasonable income, and when a business can grow and create employment.
This year’s national theme, “Embracing our sovereignty with hope and visionary leadership,” speaks directly to this responsibility. At 64, Uganda’s challenge is increasingly about translating political sovereignty into economic opportunity and greater self-reliance. The Uganda Media Centre has similarly described the contemporary independence challenge in terms of economic sovereignty producing, adding value, creating wealth and competing confidently in regional and global markets.
We must therefore begin looking at independence through the lens of economic transformation. The Uganda of the future cannot be built by government alone. Government has the responsibility to create an enabling environment, provide infrastructure, maintain security, support education and skills development, and implement programmes that expand opportunities. But citizens must also take responsibility for the opportunities available to them.
A farmer who moves from subsistence production to commercial agriculture is participating in the independence journey. A young person who acquires a practical skill, starts a business or creates employment for others is contributing to national development. A community that protects its water sources, maintains sanitation and takes care of public infrastructure is strengthening the country. A public servant who rejects corruption and protects public resources is also defending Uganda’s independence.
This is why programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Programme and the GROW Project should ultimately be understood not simply as government programmes, but as instruments through which Ugandans can build stronger households and participate in the transformation of the national economy. Their success should ultimately be measured by whether they help citizens establish sustainable enterprises, increase household incomes, create employment and move steadily from dependency to self-reliance.
But government programmes can only achieve their intended purpose when citizens use them responsibly. Money intended for enterprise should not be diverted to consumption. Public resources should not be treated as personal property. Leaders at every level must promote accountability, while beneficiaries must understand that government support is an opportunity to build a foundation for self-reliance, not a permanent source of dependency.
Our young people have an especially important role in this next chapter of Uganda’s independence. The generation that fought for political liberation has gradually handed over responsibility to a younger generation. The question facing today’s youth is therefore not simply what Uganda can do for them, but what they can do with the opportunities available to them.
In Lira City, this responsibility is particularly important. We are living in a rapidly growing urban centre with a young population, expanding businesses and enormous potential. The future of our city will depend on how we use our human resources, how we support enterprise, how we maintain cleanliness, how we protect public property and how seriously we take education, skills development and innovation. Every resident has a role in shaping the Lira City we want to see in the years ahead.
Independence should also remind us that national development requires peace. Without peace and security, there can be no meaningful investment, no sustainable business and no secure future for our children. Political competition is part of democracy, but it must be conducted responsibly. We can disagree politically without becoming enemies. We can support different political traditions without destroying our communities. Uganda’s diversity should be a source of strength rather than a reason for division.
As we celebrate 64 years of independence, therefore, we should move beyond the ceremonies, speeches and celebrations and ask ourselves some difficult questions. Are we using our freedom responsibly? Are we preparing our children for the future? Are we making productive use of our land and resources? Are we protecting public property? Are we demanding accountability from leaders while also being accountable ourselves? And are we doing enough to ensure that the next generation inherits a stronger Uganda than the one we received?
The Uganda of 1962 was young and full of hope. The Uganda of 2026 has travelled a long and sometimes difficult road. We have experienced political turmoil, conflict, economic hardship and periods of recovery and transformation. We have made mistakes, but we have also made progress. The responsibility before us now is to build on what has worked, correct what has failed and ensure that the sacrifices of those who came before us were not in vain.
Independence, therefore, is not something that ended when the Union Jack came down in 1962. It is a responsibility that every generation must renew. The independence of today must be about more than political sovereignty. It must be about economic empowerment, social stability, responsible citizenship, accountable leadership and the creation of opportunities for every Ugandan to live a dignified life.
Let us celebrate our history, but let us not live in the past. Let us respect our political differences, but put Uganda first. Let us demand good leadership, but also become responsible citizens. Let us use the programmes and opportunities available to us to create wealth rather than dependency.
The Uganda we want tomorrow will not be created by speeches alone. It will be built by millions of individual decisions made by farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, students, public servants, professionals, community leaders and political leaders every day.
Sixty-four years after independence, the challenge is no longer simply to protect the freedom we inherited. It is to use that freedom wisely to build the Uganda we want to leave behind. Happy 64th Independence Day, Uganda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
