Kazo District NRM Secretary and Workers’ Councillor Mugabe Alex Kayabuki has urged Ugandans to protect the country’s gains in peace and stability while addressing persistent challenges, including corruption, unemployment and the rising cost of living.

In a statement marking Uganda’s 64th Independence Anniversary on October 9, Kayabuki said the country’s journey since independence in 1962 had been marked by political instability, economic disruption and the weakening of public institutions.

He cited the political turmoil of the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, as well as the 1972 expulsion of Asians, which disrupted trade, industry and skilled services, leaving lasting effects on the economy.

Kayabuki, who serves as the Kazo District Workers’ Councillor and NRM District Secretary, said the experiences of those decades underscore the importance of preserving peace, strengthening public institutions and protecting citizens’ freedoms.

He credited the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, which took power in 1986, with restoring relative stability, rebuilding state institutions and expanding infrastructure, particularly the road network connecting different parts of the country.

However, he said the gains made over the past four decades should be matched by improvements in household incomes, employment opportunities and access to quality public services.

“Forty years of one government is long enough to be judged on results,” Kayabuki said, arguing that stability should translate into broader prosperity for Ugandans.

He called on citizens to remember those who endured the country’s difficult past, safeguard the progress made and demand greater accountability and improved service delivery from leaders.

Uganda is marking its 64th Independence Anniversary under the theme, “Embracing Our Sovereignty with Hope and Visionary Leadership.”