By Alex Don

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has applauded peace-loving Ugandans and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for their tireless efforts in maintaining peace and stability across the country, describing peace as the foundation of Uganda’s steady progress and development.

Speaking during Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day celebrations held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the President emphasized that all of the country’s achievements have been built upon the peace secured under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.

“I need to salute the peace-loving Ugandans and the UPDF for ensuring peace in Uganda. All that is happening is, first and foremost, on account of the peace that is available,” President Museveni said.

He credited the NRM’s long-standing policy of forgiveness and reconciliation for uniting Ugandans and fostering national stability, explaining that these values have guided the country’s recovery from decades of turmoil and division.

In a historic moment at the celebrations, President Museveni welcomed Col. Samson Mande is back in Uganda after years in exile. Col. Mande, a former bush war comrade who had previously fallen out with the government and engaged in rebel activities while abroad, was warmly received by the president.

“Even today, I am happy to welcome back into peaceful Uganda, Col. Samson Mande, who had fled into exile on account of, apparently, some internal intrigue,” President Museveni noted.

He commended Mande’s earlier contributions to Uganda’s liberation struggle, recalling his role as a volunteer scout for the Task Force Division of the TPDF in 1979, and later as commander of the 15th Battalion during the Siege of Masaka in 1985.

Col. Mande expressed gratitude for the President’s gesture and pledged to support government efforts toward peace, reconciliation, and national unity.

This peace is lubricated by the long-standing NRM policy of reconciliation and forgiveness, on top of our firm stand against crime. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

President Museveni also reflected on Uganda’s post-independence journey, noting that the NRM’s leadership has transformed the nation from one plagued by dictatorship and economic collapse to a country experiencing rapid growth and industrialization. He highlighted the rise of new factories, infrastructure expansion, and technological advancement as signs of an unstoppable Uganda.

Looking ahead, the President reiterated his vision for deeper East African integration, emphasizing that both economic and political unity are vital for the region’s strength and shared prosperity.