The Office of the National chairman(ONC) manager Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo has left her haters murmuring and speaking in tongues after she mobilized thousands of National Resistance movements(NRM) supporters and well wishers who turned up to be part of the Katonga Spirit celebrations that took place today Friday 8th September 2023 at Kololo independence grounds.
The first and one of its kind celebration dubbed Katonga Spirit that coincided with President Museveni’s 79th birthday was organized by the Bazzukulu led by Hajjat Namyalo to honor and celebrate the NRA Katonga war veterans as well as Museveni’s achievements as he turns 79 years later this month.
Speaking during the event amidst cheers, Museveni who was the chief guest and the main celebrant commended Hajjat Namyalo for honoring him and the Katonga war veterans that fought with him to liberate Uganda during the struggle In 1985.
”Thank you very much for celebrating my birthday. Thank you very much for remembering the fighters that fought with me especially those of September 1972 and September 1985 but without forgetting all the others” President Museveni said during Katonga Spirit celebrations held today Friday at Kololo Independence grounds.
”I want to thank all those who fought in Katonga and the battles before. All the past wars in Uganda were unnecessary because there was always another way of solving the problems peacefully. Since 1962, we could have had peaceful politics, but some people didn’t want to. They decided to go for violence and sectarianism. They never wanted the elections to decide. We would have used peaceful means to solve our problems” he added.
Museveni further noted that apart from being his birth month, September is a very special month with two other events that made Uganda’s history.
“There are two Septembers which are very important in our struggle. One was on 17, 1972 when I had turned 28 years of age and we attacked Mbarara from Tanzania. It was however a bad September because we planned the attack badly and we lost a lot of people. “I am glad you agreed to combine my 79 years of life with our struggle and in this case events of Katonga. I want to thank all those who participated in the Katonga battles and battles before.” Museveni further noted.
Speaking to his fully charged audience Museveni said before they captured power in 1986, Uganda went through unnecessary wars that leaders could have avoided had they listened to what the people were telling them.
“Ugandans should know those wars were totally unnecessary. We could have had total peace but some people decided to go for sectarianism .The suffering we went through could have been avoided .We could have negotiated and solved these issues without shedding blood but others didn’t want to listen to us and didn’t want democracy. That’s why we had to fight until we got victory,” Museveni said
The wars saw Prime Minister, Apollo Milton Obote depose the first president of Uganda, Sir Edward Muteesa in 1966 and declared himself president, establishing a dictatorial regime with the UPC as the only official party.
Meanwhile, Obote was also overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971 as he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Singapore
Eight years later in 1979, Amin was also overthrown by Tanzanian troops and forces of the Uganda National Liberation Front and Obote returned to lead the country but was overthrown a second time by another coup d’état in 1985 led by Tito Okello.
Okello’s government didn’t last long after it was overthrown in 1986 by the National Resistance Army rebels led by Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni further noted that the country is stable, the war is on ensuring social economic transformation but also ensuring every child is educated.
“Everybody should join the money economy by engaging in commercial agriculture, services, industries and ICT. That is the war we on, to fight poverty from homesteads and the entire country.”
Speaking during the event, the ever smiling Hajjat Namyalo aka chief Muzzukulu also assured president Museveni that the Bazzukulu are ready to rally behind him in the upcoming 2026 general elections and beyond thus their agenda Omalayo Jajja Tukikube Ku Ballot 2026 seeking to extend president Museveni’s leadership.
