Kololo, Kampala: Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has declared that Uganda’s Independence Day celebrations will be permanently held at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, ending the country’s long-standing practice of rotating the national event across districts.
The directive marks a significant shift from a decentralization policy that aimed to promote regional inclusivity and national unity by allowing different districts to host major state functions on a rotational basis.
Speaking on Tuesday, October 07, during the final parade rehearsals for Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day celebrations, Gen. Muhoozi confirmed that henceforth, the national event will remain anchored in the capital.
“Independence Day celebrations will henceforth be held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, while other significant national days such as Liberation Day and Tarehe Sita will continue to be celebrated across different regions of the country to promote inclusivity and national unity,” Gen. Muhoozi announced.
The decision effectively ends the government guideline that mandated the rotation of national celebrations, ensuring that no single district hosts a major event within a two-year interval. The new approach now centralises the country’s most symbolic day of statehood in the heart of Kampala, reflecting what military insiders describe as a push for consistency, coordination, and efficiency in national ceremonies.
During the same event, Gen. Muhoozi inspected and commended parade units drawn from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police, Uganda Prisons, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority for mastering new parade drills. He described the parade as a vital display of military discipline and national pride.
“Drills are the essence of military discipline. They build technical skill, cohesion, confidence, and teamwork,” he said, adding that “a good parade reflects national pride, values, order, and discipline: the grand skill upon which the backbone of the country lies.”
This year’s Independence Day will be celebrated under the theme: “63 Years of Independence: A Reason to Double Our Efforts in Sustaining a United and Progressive Nation.”
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
