By Aggrey Baba
Kira Municipality MP, Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, has lashed out at President Yoweri Museveni and NRM government for what he called reckless and unjustifiable spending on repeated national celebrations that he says serve no meaningful purpose for ordinary Ugandans.
Ssemujju, one of the most vocal and consistent critics of President Museveni and the First Family, made the remarks on Monday during the unveiling of the newly registered People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) political party at its headquarters in Katonga.
The PFF, which was granted its certificate of registration on June 5, is currently under the leadership of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago as acting president, founded by a team of seasoned opposition figures led by Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, the former FDC president and four-time presidential contender, who has now spent 200 days in prison.
Ssemujju took particular aim at the ever-growing list of public celebrations in Uganda, accusing the NRM-led government of using them as personal platforms to glorify the Museveni and his family, rather than to honour national service.
He pointed out that Uganda has now turned what were once meaningful commemorative events into costly state functions centred on Museveni’s legacy. Ssemujju cited Liberation Day on January 26, Tarehe Sita on February 6, and Heroes Day on June 9 as examples of state occasions that repeat the same historical narrative about the Luweero Bush War.
“Heroes Day has now become the third national event to celebrate General Museveni,” he said, explaining that in just the first half of the year, the country had already hosted celebrations in Mubende, Kyotera, and Lyantonde, all of them led by or featuring the President, the First Lady, or their son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. “It’s like a family meeting.”
He decried the financial cost of these events, revealing that the national budget for this year allocated UGX 12 billion for Heroes Day activities, including giveaways and medals, while UGX 7 billion needed to finalise the A-Level curriculum for Senior Five students was not provided.
According to the firebrand MP, the Uganda National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) has been unable to complete the new syllabus due to this funding gap, affecting over one million students across the country.
He described this as a clear example of misplaced government priorities, saying, “The country can find money to organise events that cost between UGX 3 billion to UGX 7 billion each, but it can’t allocate funds to complete a school curriculum.”
Ssemujju also noted that past celebrations have cost even more. “There was a time this country spent UGX 11 billion on a single Youth Day celebration,” he said, questioning how such extravagance can be justified in a country where people are struggling with poverty and businesses are facing harsh conditions.
He highlighted the economic disruptions caused by these holidays, especially when they lead to closure of key institutions like Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). “URA collects about UGX 72 billion every day. But on days like Heroes Day, their offices are closed. That’s money and time lost.”
He further pointed out how these public holidays affect business owners whose goods and services depend on daily interaction with government offices. “Imagine being told your cargo can’t be processed because Museveni is in Lyantonde with Anita Among and Nabanja, attending Heroes Day,” he said. “Meanwhile, you are losing money.”
Ssemujju proposed that these celebrations KHeroes Day, Tarehe Sita, and Liberation Day), should be merged into a single national day, as they all mark the same historical background.
He also criticised the cost of travel by government officials, revealing that the government spends UGX 960 billion annually on internal travel, much of it used for trips to these national celebrations. “Every time these events happen, convoys of red number plates move around the country at taxpayers’ cost,” he said.
In a jab at the First Family, Ssemujju claimed that the current leadership has turned national leadership into personal enjoyment, using state resources for social events. He gave the example of weddings, saying, “One day, you’ll see Museveni at 80 in a suit, and his wife in a wedding gown! At 75, saying they missed their wedding when they were young. Then the whole government will drive to Ntungamo to attend it.”
He said these celebrations are not national in character, and that when Museveni leaves power, they will likely fade away altogether. “Once Museveni is gone, no one will be organising Heroes Day, Liberation Day, or Tarehe Sita,” he said. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
