The Office of the National Chairman (ONC) of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has urged Ugandans across the political spectrum to embrace tolerance and peace as the country prepares to celebrate its 64th Independence Day anniversary on Friday, October 9.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the national commemoration scheduled to take place at State House Entebbe, ONC National Coordinator Ms Hadijah Namyalo emphasized that political differences should not divide citizens during a historic milestone. The national celebrations will be held under the theme ‘Embracing Our Sovereignty with Peace and Visionary Leadership,’ according to the Minister for the Presidency, Ms Milly Babalanda.
Ms Namyalo appealed to political actors to set aside rivalries and protect the country’s development gains, including newly discovered oil resources, while reflecting on the nation’s past struggles.
‘We may disagree politically, but we must not forget where Uganda came from. If you see the storm squatting fire, just know that the country is mourning to cause an exit… Let’s not rape the country, leaving Ugandans bleeding in fear. We have gains to protect,’ Ms Namyalo said.
Highlighting the post-independence era, Ms Namyalo noted that 1962 did not instantly bring stability to the nation. She observed that the country endured decades of turmoil, military coups, and armed conflict until 1986, when President Yoweri Museveni and the NRM assumed power to restore stability, rebuild national institutions, and establish conditions for socio-economic growth.
With President Museveni currently six months into his seventh term following the recent election cycle, Ms Namyalo urged citizens to focus on productive national development rather than divisive rhetoric. She reiterated that the ONC remains focused on socio-economic transformation rather than politicking.
Her calls for political restraint follow similar sentiments expressed on the floor of Parliament by the Minister for Water and Environment, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire. Maj Gen Otafiire, a veteran of the National Resistance Army (NRA) liberation struggle, cautioned against excessive force and aggressive crackdowns on opposition groups, warning that such actions risk damaging the ruling party’s image and long-term legacy.
Addressing fellow lawmakers, the former bush war combatant argued that true political strength lies in diplomacy and magnanimity rather than confrontation. He reminded his colleagues in the NRM that constructive criticism from political opponents acts as a crucial mirror for self-assessment.
‘When you see a general who prefers violence as the best means of solving problems, then there is a problem. The greatest generals I know of are those who resolve problems without shooting a bullet,’ Maj Gen Otafiire said, adding that democracy requires political winners to be magnanimous while respecting the opposition’s right to be heard.
The public appeals for tolerance arrive at a tense moment marked by heightened political friction. Opposition groups and civil rights organizations continue to raise concerns over alleged abductions, prolonged detentions without trial, and heavy-handed law enforcement tactics against government critics.
Public outrage recently flared after video footage circulated online showing missing former People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) mobiliser Sam Mugumya, who disappeared following an alleged abduction on August 26, 2025. The video, which depicted Mr Mugumya wearing an NRM-branded shirt while undergoing physical rehabilitation to re-learn how to walk, sparked widespread condemnation from human rights defenders and political stakeholders.
Simultaneously, political maneuvering for future election cycles is already gaining momentum across the country. The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a civic pressure group headed by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is currently conducting nationwide drives to collect 25 million signatures by December in support of his political prospects for the 2031 presidential race.
Reiterating her central message, Ms Namyalo urged citizens to approach the national holiday with sober reflection, asserting that national stability remains the bedrock upon which economic growth and shared prosperity must be built.