Remembering leaders of the struggles that culminated in our independence 

The 9th of October annually marks a significant day in Uganda where we freed ourselves from colonial rule and our destiny was reshaped.

Our edifice of liberty stands today on the foundation of sacrifices laid by the founding fathers with a pan-African outlook who pioneered the global agitation for freedom of colonized persons especially on the African continent.

It is also known that the Pan-African Conference which took place in London in 1948 attended by Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkurumah, Du Bois, Sir William Tubman and also a Ugandan by the name Semakula Mulumba. The main objective of these pan-Africanists was to chart ways of starting serious strategies for de-colonization and emancipation of the African continent.

Besides that, in 1955, the Non-Aligned Movement was also brought on form under the guidance of General Josip Broz Tito of the former Yugoslavia. He and like-minded leaders at the time, came up with an idea to host a conference which took place at Bandug in Indonesia purposely to champion de-colonization of Africa and parts of Asia.

The global pan-African outlook undoubtedly had an influential aspect on our own founding fathers of Uganda’s independence struggle which was in turn led by the key figures that include, but not limited to, Ignatius Kangave Musaazi (who formed the first political party in Uganda, the Uganda National Congress, UNC, in 1952 assisted by Abubakar Kakyama Mayanja for Buganda, Stefano Abwangato (from Bugisu), Yekosefat Engur (from Lango), Ben Okwerede (from Teso) and S. B. Katembo (from Tooro).

Others were Sir William Wilberforce Nadiope (who was part of the Ugandan delegation that went to the 1961 Lancaster Conference in UK to advocate for independence), Benedict Kiwanuka (the 1st prime minister of Uganda from March 1, 1962 to April 30, 1962 when
he was succeeded by Milton Obote), Semakula Mulumba (who severely clashed with the Colonial Protectorate Government officials in Entebbe and British Government officials in London while pursuing studies.

As part of the crackdown on independence freedom fighters, the British Government terminated his scholarship. Impressed by his eloquence, charisma and wealth of knowledge, the members of the Bataka Party raised money and sent him back to England to complete his course on October 2, 1947).

Other independence leaders include Grace Ibingira (was co-founder of the UPC party with Milton Obote in 1960 and was elected to the Legislative Council in 1960), William Wilberforce Rwetsiba, John Kakonge and Tiberio Okeny (who joined DP in 1959 prior to iIndependence and participated as a representative of Acholi in the London Constitutional Conference that wrote the Uganda Constitution in 1962.

We bow to all those men and women who made enormous sacrifices to make it possible for us to live in a free country we call home today.

Therefore, today is a cause for celebrations not only of us but for every advocate of human freedom and liberties around the world. It is also a day to uphold the strides made in attaining the progress of the nation for the good of those alive today as well as posterity.

When the British handed Uganda independence at the Kololo Independence Square, the Queen’s representative, the Duke of Kent, handed over the constitutional instruments of independence to the executive Prime Minister, Milton Obote. Sir Edward Mutesa II, then Kabaka of Buganda Kingdom and who was later in 1963 elected by parliament to be the first president of Uganda, stood next to Obote during the handover ceremony.

Our generation has a collective duty to responsibly exercise this freedom and, indeed, safeguard the peace and unity of our nation. Above all, we have an obligation to be patriotic to our great country. Let us put Uganda first in all we say and do. May God bless our great nation, Uganda!

(An extract from ‘Synopsis for the 61st Independence Day Anniversary Celebrations – Uganda 2023’.)