LYANTONDE.
President Museveni has revealed that government will soon shift medical treatment of war veterans to Entebbe Grade B Hospital to reduce huge expenses that have been spent in some private hospitals like Nakasero Hospital.
The President also announced plans to establish a special burial fund for former fighters.
During the celebrations on Monday at Lyantonde Technical Institute Grounds in Kaliiro Town Council, Lyantonde District,Mr Museveni praised the fighters of the National Resistance Army (NRA) and recognized the unique role played by the people of Kabula and Sembabule in supporting the liberation effort
“I want to salute the fighters who stood firm during the resistance movement. In particular, I also want to salute the people of this area Kabula, Sembabule who supported us in the struggle,” he said.
Mr Museveni reiterated his commitment to honouring Uganda’s war heroes and strengthening community security, as the nation marked Heroes Day celebrations.
The 36th Heroes Day celebrations ran under the theme: “The Legacy and Ideals of our Heroes: A memorable Inspiration”.
Heroes Day is a national public holiday observed annually to honour individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Uganda’s liberation struggle and national development.
It was first commemorated on June 9, 1989, marking the day in 1981 when a group of National Resistance Army fighters, led by Edidian Mukiibi Luttamaguzi, were killed by the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) for aiding the resistance.
The sacrifice of Luttamaguzi and others during that time laid the foundation for a tradition of recognising national heroes.
Prioritising welfare for war veterans:
President Museveni directed a fresh review of the Ministry of Luweero Triangle’s budget, emphasising the need to focus on practical support for families of fallen or living war veterans.
He proposed that instead of building entire houses for war-affected families, the government could supply materials like iron sheets and cement, while the families contribute bricks and labour, noting that the goal is to ensure that one clear problem is solved at a time without spreading resources too thinly across multiple unrelated sectors.
“The budget must be focused. You may not build an entire house, but at least give iron sheets and cement, and let the families make their own bricks. Let’s solve one problem at a time,” he said
“When we started NAADS and Operation Wealth Creation in 2013, I told Gen. Saleh to first give seeds and inputs to the families of the veterans.” He said
He said Uganda’s veterans must never be forgotten, noting that their welfare was considered from the very beginning. After the war, he gathered over 800 leaders in Kyankwanzi in 2008 and announced a Shs5 million token of appreciation to each, along with Shs1 million for other supporters.
Tackling Local Insecurity:
Turning to matters of rural security, President Museveni attributed rural insecurity to poor communication and response times.
He addressed past incidents of criminal violence, giving an example of a deadly attack in Kisojo, Bukomansimbi.
He mentioned that he had directed police at every sub-county to publicize a toll-free emergency number that operates around the clock.
“When I went there, I realized that the problem was poor coordination. So I directed that there should be police at every sub-county to operate a 24-hour toll-free line, managed in shifts,” he said.
President Museveni emphasized that all homes now have telephones, and when under threat, citizens should contact their nearest police station, not distant relatives or leaders.
He cited a harrowing yet hopeful case of a nurse, Nakyambadde, who was targeted by criminals near Lukaya. Following his guidance, she immediately telephoned the local police.
As the attackers attempted to break into her home, he narrated that the police arrived swiftly and foiled the assault. The gang was neutralized, and the last suspect was captured as far away as Ntungamo.
“That phone call saved her life. This was the kind of coordination we have been lacking,” he said, noting that earlier failures had cost lives.
“These killers were not special. What they took advantage of was our disorganization,” he added.
The President also referred to the killing of elders in Masaka, where criminals were eventually tracked down with the help of police dogs.
For the President, this was proof that strengthening coordination and investing in trained response units could decisively end rural crime.
Meanwhile, the President and Maama Janet first visited a monument site and laid a wreath in commemoration of freedom fighters who died during the people’s protracted war of the NRA, between 1981-1986.
Also, distinguished individuals were recognized for their exceptional service, including veterans of the NRA struggle, civil servants, and community change-makers.
The event was also attended by the Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the East African Community, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the First National Vice Chairperson of NRM, Alhajji Moses Kigongo, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, religious and cultural leaders, among other dignitaries.