Uganda’s independence remains incomplete as long as poverty, corruption and economic dependency continue to undermine development, Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda has said.
Babalanda made the remarks on Friday, October 9, during celebrations marking Uganda’s 64th Independence Anniversary at State House in Entebbe, held under the theme, “Embracing Our Sovereignty with Hope and Visionary Leadership.”
She said the country must move beyond political freedom and prioritise economic transformation, self-reliance, national security and poverty eradication to achieve meaningful independence.
“The lowering of the Union Jack on 9th October 1962 was only the beginning,” Babalanda said, urging Ugandans to confront poverty, economic dependency and underdevelopment.
She also called on citizens to honour the historical figures who fought colonial domination, including Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro and Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda.
Babalanda recognised early political pioneers such as Ignatius Musazi, Semakula Mulumba, Maindi, Miti and James Kivu, alongside movements including Bataka Ba Buganda and the Uganda National Congress, founded in 1952, for their role in advancing political mobilisation.
The minister commended President Yoweri Museveni for pursuing what she described as the second phase of liberation, centred on economic and strategic independence.
She noted that when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) took power in 1986, the government faced the task of restoring political order and rebuilding the economy.
Babalanda said Uganda must transition from exporting raw materials such as coffee, cotton, copper, tobacco and tea to industrialisation, value addition and domestic manufacturing.
She cited products including sugar, soap, steel, cement, pharmaceuticals and processed foods as areas where local production could help reduce dependence on imports and create employment.
On security, she praised the transformation of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) into a professional army capable of defending the country’s territorial integrity and contributing to regional peace.
She also highlighted efforts to strengthen professionalism and accountability in security institutions under Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Babalanda identified corruption as a major obstacle to service delivery and called for efficient institutions, increased domestic production and practical wealth-creation initiatives at household and community levels.
She urged Ugandans to build on the gains of independence by addressing the challenges affecting livelihoods and economic growth.
“If the first generation fought to remove the colonial flag, our generation must remove the chains of poverty, dependency and underdevelopment,” she said.