Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda has paid tribute to Uganda’s heroes and heroines, saying their sacrifice, courage and selflessness laid the foundation for the country’s progress, while urging citizens to embrace patriotism, integrity and hard work.
Speaking during Heroes Day celebrations held at State House Nakasero on Tuesday, Babalanda said the annual commemoration serves as a reminder that Uganda’s achievements were earned through sacrifice rather than chance.
“Heroes’ Day reminds us that our nation’s progress was never handed to us on a silver platter; it was earned through sacrifice,” she said.
She paid tribute to the heroes of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) liberation struggle, noting that under the leadership of President Museveni, Uganda transitioned from a period of political turmoil and insecurity to one of relative peace, stability and development.
“Through their dedication and His Excellency’s steadfast leadership, Uganda has risen from the challenges of 1986 into a nation of peace, stability, and opportunity,” she said.
Babalanda highlighted what she described as Uganda’s economic transformation, pointing to investments in education through Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), as well as improvements in the health sector.
She said these interventions have expanded access to services, improved life expectancy and enhanced overall quality of life.
The Minister also praised the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), saying the army has evolved from a liberation force into a professional institution contributing to regional peace and stability.
She further recognised contemporary figures she described as heroes, including Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for his role in military operations in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other missions.
Babalanda also paid tribute to Dr. Matthew Lukwiya, noting his sacrifice during Uganda’s first Ebola outbreak, saying his legacy continues to guide the country’s public health response.
She also commended President Museveni’s leadership in managing public health crises, including Ebola and COVID-19, saying his efforts had helped safeguard lives and strengthen Uganda’s emergency response systems.
The Minister further cited civilian figures such as Philly Bongole Lutaaya and Yvonne Namaganda as examples of heroism beyond military service, noting their courage in confronting social challenges and tragedy.
Reflecting on this year’s Heroes Day theme, “Protecting the Gains as We Make a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status,” Babalanda expressed optimism that Uganda remains on track to achieve its development goals.
She cited programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, expanding exports, tourism growth, industrialisation and the oil and gas sector as key drivers of future growth.
Babalanda urged Ugandans to embrace discipline, accountability and productivity, saying achieving national transformation requires collective effort.
“The responsibility now rests upon all of us to emulate the spirit of our heroes by placing national interest above personal gain,” she said.
She called on citizens to reject corruption and dependency while embracing wealth creation, innovation and hard work to safeguard national gains and secure prosperity for future generations.