H.E. President Yoweri Museveni has congratulated
Ugandans upon reaching the 26th Anniversary
of the NRM Victory Day. This was at national
celebrations that took place on Thursday 26th
January 2012 at Sebei College Tegres in Kapchorwa
district.
The President said that contrary to false information
peddled by some media houses that the NRM had not caused
any fundamental development changes in Uganda, a lot of
achievements had been registered in all spheres of life.
He cited the freedom of speech that he described as
unbeatable in the world. The President pointed out
that this freedom that would be better used
constructively had been abused by peddlers of lies.
The President also mentioned the size of the economy as
another area where the NRM had registered fundamental
changes making it one of the fastest growing economies
in the world.
He disclosed that in 1986, the annual GDP of Uganda was
only 3.4 trillion shillings compared to today’s size of
the economy that had grown 12 times to 39 trillion
shillings.
The President said the economy would have done better
had it not been for the slow pace that is engineered by
political indiscipline that frustrated the development
of Bujagali hydro power station and the sugar projects.
He, however, assured the nation that with the discovery
of petroleum resource, the sky was the limit in terms of
development. He explained that the oil that the NRM
government discovered would enable the country fund the
development of the infrastructure.
President Museveni also cited human resource development
as one of the fundamental changes brought about by the
NRM; innovations by scientists, like the Kiira Electric
vehicle and value addition to food stuffs.
He added that security of person and property were also
guaranteed adding that a person who couldn’t see these
glaring developmental changes must be sick.
The President noted that the only challenge today was
that of corruption over which he assured the people of
Uganda that it would be solved the way the NRM tackled
other problems.
During the ceremony, H.E. President Museveni awarded the
visiting Presidents of Rwanda
H.E. Paul Kagame
and H.E. Theodore
Obiang Nguema Obasago of Equatorial Guinea with the
most excellent
Order of the Pearl of Africa, the Grand Master in
recognition of their selfless contribution to peace and
stability not only in their own countries but also in
their respective regions.
The colourful NRM anniversary celebrations were also
attended, among others, by Vice President, Edward
Kiwanuka Sekandi, the Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi, the
Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, the Chief
Justice, Justice Benjamin Odoki, cultural leaders,
Members of Parliament and the diplomatic corps.