The Minister for the Presidency, Ms Milly Babirye Babalanda has announced that only 25 guests will attend this year’s Heroes Day scientific celebration ceremony at State House, Entebbe, noting that there won’t be a public gathering as it has been in the previous years.
The change in the nature of the commemoration has been due to the fact that the country is observing strict Standard Operating Procedures due to the Ebola pandemic.
Heroes Day is usually marked on June 9 every year.
Addressing journalists at Uganda Media Centre today, Ms Babalanda explained that the change-like celebration is aimed at observing strict Standard Operating Procedures due to the Ebola pandemic in the country.
‘As you may recall, the President of the Republic of Uganda, after consultation with the National Epidemic Response Task Force and Religious Leaders, decided to postpone the much-anticipated Annual Uganda Martyrs’ Pilgrimage due to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is on account that Uganda receives thousands of Pilgrims annually from Eastern Congo, which is currently experiencing the Ebola outbreak; hence the need to safeguard everyone’s lives,’ Ms Babalanda said.
She added, “The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and that it constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. It does make sense to assume that it may not be possible to congregate a lot of Ugandans at Kololo on 9th of June 2026.”
Ms Babalanda further noted that this year, there will not be the awarding of medals as has been the tradition on Heroes Day celebrations.
She stated that the 25 people were selected from the three arms of government, religious leaders, and representatives from the Luweero Triangle Veteran Association, highlighting that the rest of the country will receive the President’s message via the national broadcaster, the UBC, and other broadcasters that have national audiences.
She explained that the day remains a public holiday that will be marked under the theme: ‘Protecting the gains as we make a qualitative leap into high-middle-income status’, the same theme used for the presidential inauguration ceremony.
For the Moslem community, prayer will be held on Friday, June 5th, 2026, in all mosques, Seventh-day Adventists, on Saturday, June 5th, in all their churches, and other Christians, on Sunday, June 7th, in all churches.
As part of the commemoration, the government has guided that prayers and thanksgiving be held across the country by different respective religions and urged Ugandans to attend prayers in their respective places of worship.
For the Moslem community, prayer will be held on Friday June5th, 2026 in all mosques, Seventh day Adventists; on Saturday June5th in all their churches, other Christian; on Sunday June7th in all churches.