UN Resident Coordinator's Remarks at Commemoration of Heroes Day

His Excellency the President of Uganda, General Yoweri Museveni

The First Lady

Honourable Members of Parliament

Development Partners

Representatives from Civil Society and Private Sector

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the United Nations system in Uganda, I am delighted to join the people of Uganda in celebrating men and women who through valor, sacrifice and deep conviction of African values fought for a better Uganda. The UN Charter conveys our determination as a human race “ to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security,” It is in this spirit that we recognize the sons and daughters of the land who selflessly sacrificed their lives and came together not based on their ethnicity, religion or gender but based on the belief of oneness, of being Ugandan. They did not do this for their personal gain, they sacrificed their lives for the stability and prosperity of the generations to come. Recognizing the sacrifice of citizens for the greater good, is an important factor for social cohesion, inclusive development and sustainable peace.

As we join hands to commemorate and honor those who lost their lives in the Bush Wars of 1981- 1986, we are called upon to also remember everyone who has lost their life in the struggle for democracy, peace and justice.  Regardless of where we stand in society, we have the potential to become heroes of the motherland. This special day provides us with an opportunity to reflect and evaluate our individual and collective contributions towards a better Uganda. We need to ask ourselves whether in half a century history will judge us as heroes, whether the generations to come will have reason to celebrate us. I wish to use this opportunity to call on taxi drivers to stop increasing the prices of transport, dangerously affecting families trying to get home during this second COVID19 wave. My brothers and sisters, fathers, mothers, grandparents, sons and daughters, as John F Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Let us ask ourselves what we can do for our families, communities and country.

The United Nations recognizes and celebrates the heroic acts of Uganda as a country for being the second largest country to host refugees in the world. This is a heroic act informed by the African Ubuntu philosophy, "I am because we are" which remains an inspiration for the world. We also recognize Uganda for its role in providing stability and leadership in Africa, including the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa regions. Men and women from Uganda have enabled entire nations on this continent to survive, deal with terrorist threats, and have the space to redefine homegrown solutions to insecurity and governance. We recognize gallant soldiers serving in various peacekeeping missions across Africa. Uganda is also known for its heroic acts in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and in DRC. Experienced health workers and military personnel were among the first to respond, leading to expressions of gratitude from affected communities and nations. I would like to use this opportunity to recognise Major General Julius Facki Oketta (3 October 1956 – 5 November 2016) a senior commander in the UPDF who in addition to leading the Ebola response, served as the Director of National Emergency Coordination and Operations in the Office of the Prime Minister; and in October 2013, was endorsed by the UN Secretary-General as a member of the advisory group of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, the first Ugandan to serve at this level.

In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate our current heroes in the different sectors, in particular the healthcare providers who have been in the frontline battling the COVID 19 pandemic despite the high risks, the researchers working around the clock to find homegrown solutions and all UN personnel, partners and private sector working to empower vulnerable families affected by violence and other implications of the pandemic across the country. I also wish to recognize the sacrifice of Ugandan sports men and women who have flown the flag high and brought honor to the country; the diaspora community who always remember to send money to keep families alive and build the motherland. I also wish to recognize Ugandans, particularly women and youth, who have championed Ubuntu values to hold the communities together in challenging times.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today is a special day. As we celebrate heroes, I am humbled that we are also witnessing the Presidential launch a national civic education campaign titled “Uganda - This is Home”  developed by the National Initiative for Civic Education in Uganda (NICE-UG) and partners. This is the first ever national mindset change campaign which aims to inspire a new generation of citizens informed by the Pan-African value system of Ubuntu and a new world in which knowledge economies and digital platforms play an important role for all nations. This campaign also aims to rally citizens to celebrate diversity, increase appreciation of Ugandan values and transform society through citizen participation including of its mostly youthful population. The campaign will also influence a shift towards a more harmonious co-existence of the various tribes as a modern state.

NICE-UG is a presidential initiative, launched on 12 March 2019 by the President of the Republic on the margins of the Africa Now Summit. NICE-UG was launched after a series of wide consultations across the country, as well as a benchmarking visit to Ghana supported by the UN including members of the State, the Civil Society, security forces and the UN. NICE-UG aims to provide a central space for the coordination and harmonization of efforts around civic education by the various relevant indigenous stakeholders in Uganda. By bringing civil society, cultural leaders, social influencers, private sector and the Government together, NICE-UG seeks to address challenges recorded over the past 30 years by delivering a relevant, inclusive and coordinated national civic education in the country. I invite NICE-UG to stand for recognition.

Ladies and Gentlemen: before I conclude, I would like to invite Ugandans across society from parish to national level to engage with NICE-UG to promote the African philosophy of Obuntubulamu, which calls on us to recognise our shared humanity and to exercise our rights and responsibilities as constructive citizens. Obumu-Unity, Obwesimbu-Integrity, Obwerufu-Transparency and Okufaayo-Empathy are core values enshrined in Uganda’s Constitution, which also reflect the principles behind the SDGs and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. Clarity of mindset, core values are important if Uganda is to achieve sustainable transformation for all.

Finally, as the UN Resident Coordinator and the Patron for NICE Uganda, I wish to convey my appreciation for the support given by the government of Uganda, private sector and civil society to bring NICE-UG to life. I wish to thank Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, OPM, Office of the President, UMC Victoria, Stanbic and OWC for stepping forward to invest in this critical initiative, which I have maintained for two years as part of our catalytic support to transformation. I wish to recognize UN colleagues in particular UNWOMEN, UNDP and OHCHR for supporting this journey so far.

The UN system is proud to be part of this initiative which we were told was not possible in 2016 and we commit to continue to support it as part of our UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Uganda 2021-2025. At this time, it is my singular honor to hand over this initiative as part of our support to the people and government of Uganda in your journey to achieve your aspirations as espoused in the Constitution, NDP III, the National Vision 2040 and the SDGs. By working together, the UN continues to create a catalytic environment for more robust partnerships within Ugandan society to achieve socio-economic growth, democracy and justice.

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, it has been an honor to serve as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Designated Official for Security for the Republic of Uganda. I first came to this country as UNDP Representative in 2016 and accepted the honor to serve as UN Resident Coordinator and DO reporting to the President and the UN Secretary General following the UN reform in 2019. After five cumulative years of service, the UN Secretary General has promoted me to serve as Director Economic Affairs for the Regional Economic Commissions at UN Headquarters in New York. Today is likely to be my last Heroes’ day in my current capacity. I believe that Uganda has the potential to serve as a beacon of hope, peace and prosperity for the African continent, if the nation continues its search for approaches that allow all Ugandans to contribute to its governance and transformation. I wish to convey my heartfelt appreciation for the robust partnership between the UN and the Government during my tenure; your doors were always open to discuss problems and solutions. To the people of Uganda, thank you for letting me become part of your communities during the past five years. I will leave in my UN capacity but return in my private capacity as Uganda will remain a second home for my family, especially having adopted my second son from Sanyu Babies home. Please extend this spirit of hospitality to my successor and once again congratulations on this Heroes’ Day and the launch of the civic education campaign Uganda-This is home.

Thank you once again.