President of Republic of Uganda and Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), His Excellency Gen (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has called on Ugandans to remember the earlier resistance struggles that laid the foundation for the 1981–1986 liberation war, stressing that the history of Tarehe Sita cannot be told in isolation.
Speaking during the 45th Tarehe Sita anniversary celebrations in Kabale, President Museveni stated that Uganda’s liberation was the culmination of a long and interconnected struggle that predates the armed resistance launched on February 6, 1981.
“As some people have said, if you only talk about Tarehe Sita, you will not do justice to the history of Uganda. There were earlier struggles which actually fed into Tarehe Sita,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the President unveiled a monument at Kabale stadium in honour of three Ugandans: Mzee Joseph Bitwari, James Karambuzi, and David Kagoro Kangire, who were executed by the Idi Amin regime on February 10, 1973. He described their deaths as part of the early phase of resistance against dictatorship.
President Museveni noted that similar executions occurred in Mbarara, Fort Portal, Jinja, Gulu, and Kasese, many of the victims linked to the wider resistance movement that later culminated in the 1981-1986 liberation struggle.
“The people who participated in Tarehe Sita had been trained earlier, and that training was built step by step, from Mozambique to Tanzania and eventually Uganda,” he said.
“The whole struggle of the people of Uganda must be narrated as one connected story.”
The President congratulated Ugandans for their heroic sacrifices that shaped the country’s current stability and thanked citizens for participating in the recent general elections. He expressed appreciation to the people of Kigezi for their overwhelming support of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“We are celebrating Tarehe Sita, but we are also celebrating the victory we had recently in the elections,” Museveni said.
He commended the UPDF and other security agencies for maintaining peace during the electoral period, noting that security forces had effectively neutralised groups intent on causing instability.
On development, President Museveni said Uganda’s economy was growing rapidly, having attained lower-middle-income status, with a target of reaching upper-middle-income status in the coming years. He highlighted tourism, commercial agriculture, and manufacturing as key drivers of growth, with special emphasis on the Kigezi sub-region.
The President announced plans to improve tourism infrastructure, including upgrading Kisoro Airport and constructing a new international airport in the region to ease access to attractions such as Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks. He also revealed plans to expand Mbarara Airport to support regional trade.
On agriculture, Museveni urged farmers to adopt irrigation and fertiliser use, noting that productivity remained low due to traditional practices. He said commercial agriculture, supported by agro-processing, would boost household incomes and promote industrialisation.
In his remarks, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Markson Oboth, congratulated the President on a landslide election victory and thanked him for attending the celebrations.
The Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, described the 2026 general elections as the most peaceful since 1996, commending Ugandans for exercising their democratic rights calmly.
“Save for a few isolated cases, security was maintained across the country, allowing voters to carry out their civic duty in a calm and secure environment,” Gen Muhoozi said.
He reaffirmed the UPDF’s loyalty to the President and pledged continued support in advancing Uganda’s socio-economic transformation and regional security, highlighting ongoing operations in Karamoja and peace support missions. He noted that improved security had encouraged investment and tourism.
On welfare, Gen Muhoozi thanked President Museveni for his consistent guidance and support, which have enabled steady improvements in the living and working conditions of officers and enlisted personnel.
“The feeding, clothing, and accommodation of our officers and militants have continued to improve tremendously,” he said, attributing the progress to close supervision of projects and strict enforcement of value-for-money principles. He noted efforts to address office and housing gaps across all UPDF services, divisions, formations, and brigades.
Gen Muhoozi also commended institutions under the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs that support soldier welfare and national production, including the National Enterprise Corporation, Operation Wealth Creation, the UPDF Engineering Brigade, and the UPDF Welfare and Production departments.
During the ceremony, outstanding UPDF junior officers were recognised with the first-ever Chief of Defence Force award for the outstanding junior officer. Lt Moses Odongo of the Ground-Based Air Defence Regiment emerged as the winner, with Major Anthony Mwangi, Captain Andrew Asio Opus, and Lt Shem Begiraje also recognised.
Several senior UPDF officers were decorated with the Kabalega Medal for distinguished service, including Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, Lt Gen Charles Okidi, and Maj Gen James Kinalwa.
The celebrations were held under the theme “Defending the Gains of the Revolution and Honouring the Sacrifices of the Freedom Fighters,” reinforcing calls for national unity, peace, and sustained socio-economic transformation.
The function was graced by delegations from the Central African Republic, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Deputy CDF, Service Commanders, Heads of the Joint Staff, Religious and Political leaders among other guests.
