Fellow Ugandans, on this Heroes Day, we remember the immense sacrifices made by our people in the struggle for freedom. The 9th of June 1981 was chosen to represent the hundreds of thousands who were killed, especially in the Luweero Triangle. After the war, we collected skulls from 32 communal graves as a reminder of the atrocities our people endured.
When we went to the bush, Uganda was facing a profound crisis. The economy had collapsed, governance had broken down, insecurity was rampant, and for 18 years, Ugandans had been denied the opportunity to freely elect their leaders. Our objectives were therefore clear: restore democracy, guarantee security, expand and diversify the economy, and rebuild the country.
I thank the civilian and armed veterans who joined us in this struggle and helped achieve these goals. I also salute the families of those heroes who are no longer with us. The challenge before us now is economic transformation and ensuring that every household joins the money economy.