As Uganda celebrates National Heroe’s Day today at the Kololo Ceremonial grounds, a few significant individuals anticipate awards.
Minister for Economics Monitoring at the office of the President Peter Ogwang revealed earlier this week that 34 golden jubilee medals, 17 Nalubaale , 2 long service silver police medals,18 Luweero triangle medal and 2 honorary medals would be dished out to 81 celebrated citizens.
One of the significant awardees who has attracted attention is the Uganda Police Spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) Fred Enanga.
Enanga will be awarded with a golden jubilee medal for his exceptional and outstanding contribution to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
This award has drawn public attention with social media awash with the question why Enanga deserves to be honored for his works in security circles.
However, Ogwang says Enanga has successfully commanded several investigations within several security departments hence the awards.
“He headed the economic crimes department and worked as a CID commander KMP, commander land protection police unit, Commander CID administration and training, among others. He demonstrated high professionalism standards in criminal investigations, including large scale corporate fraud of about Shs12 billion and procurement fraud,” Ogwang explained
Enanga replaced Emilian Kayima as Police spokesperson in 2014.
This year’s theme is Consolidating Efforts in “Securing Uganda”
Background of National Heroes’ Day
The day commemorates those who lost their lives in the Ugandan Bush War (1981 – 1986).
It started with the overthrow of Idi Amin in 1979, Milton Obote who was elected President of Uganda.
The opposition party then believed the election was rigged and this led to Yoweri Museveni forming the National Resistance Army (NRA).
On June 9th 1981, at the start of the Ugandan Bush War, Edidian Mukiibi Luttamaguzi was killed by the Uganda National Liberation Army for refusing to reveal the hiding place of Museveni and the soldiers of the NRA.
Luttamaguzi made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the soldiers, the ensuing guerrilla war that brought the National Resistance Movement to power in 1985 .
The war ended with victory for the NRA on January 25th 1986, with Yoweri Museveni becoming President in 1986, a position he holds to this day.
In 2001, an act was passed in the Parliament of Uganda which recognized the June 9th as Heroes’ Day in remembrance of those who contributed to the liberation struggle .
