Zadock Amanyisa | Tayari News
KAMPALA – Today, 26th January, 2026, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), formerly National Resistance Army (NRA), pauses to mark 40 years since a group of 27 people took up arms to engage in a five-year bush war that liberated Uganda from turmoil, political uncertainty, economic collapse and state violence.
This year’s celebrations have been held at Kololo ceremonial grounds in Kampala to honour patriotic men and women who clothed themselves with courage to bring their nation to order, under the theme: “Tribute to Patriots who ushered in the fundamental change.”
According to the Minister of Presidency, Ms Milly Balabanda Babirye, the nation celebrates forty years of freedom, stability, and transformative leadership under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
“The story of Uganda’s liberation and the story of Uganda’s economic transformation are deeply intertwined,” she says
After capturing power in 1986, the NRA turned into a political movement (NRM) with an ideology that took care of a wounded nation and brought about transformation.
Uganda has enjoyed more than three decades of an uninterrupted stable democratic process, buttressed by NRM’s core principles of Democracy, Patriotism, Pan-Africanism and Socioeconomic transformation.
When coming to power, President Museveni, the revolution leader, remarked that “The NRM is a democratic movement fighting for democracy. The small number of people represented a huge force of potential soldiers that moved with correct tactics” to bring about a change, explaining that the change brought by the NRA would be a different one.
“In Africa, we have seen change, but change has become meaningless. It is no longer change but merely turmoil. This group is getting rid of that group, and that group is doing worse than the group it got rid of. Please, do not count us in that category of people.” Said President Museveni after coming to power in 1986.
He has, since then, together with his team, written a story of resilience and endurance.
Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, a civilian veteran of the liberation struggle, is grateful that President Museveni learnt from the past.
“We thank NRM under President Yoweri Museveni for learning from the mistakes of the past without repeating the same mistakes.” He recounts
Peacebuilding has been one of NRM’s achievements. This has been achieved through dialogue, amnesty and reconciliation, and the effects of these achievements have spiralled to other countries, according to Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, a bush war fighter who fought along with President Museveni and others.
“We resurrected the East African Community, we have influenced COMESA, we have influenced politics in the neighbourhood, fought for the liberation of Africans in South Sudan, we have shown other liberation movements and other struggling people on the continent and in the world, “says General Otafiire
President Museveni states that the NRM has achieved most of the goals and aspirations of Ugandans and laid a solid foundation for growth.
“We have made giant steps in our endeavour to improve the quality of life for all Ugandans. We have built a firm foundation to steer the economy for social transformation and economic take-off into self-sustaining growth.” He boasts
“Our democracy has deepened and blossomed to full maturity, to the extent that anyone can now dream of leading Uganda. At every definitive stage on our long journey, the visionary leadership of NRM has always championed progressive policies and programs to steer the country forward.” The president adds