Government explains delayed liberation celebration

Mr Mbabazi’s explanation has cleared the air about claims that the celebrations were postponed because there are suspicions of ADF rebels attacking the country around that time.

The busy schedule of some of the invited guests for the Liberation Day celebrations forced the organising committee to move forward the date to January 30, from the traditional January 26, the government said yesterday.

A press statement by the Prime Minister, Mr Amama Mbabazi, says: “This is because the schedules of the state visitors coming for the function could not fit within the scheduled date.”

Mr Mbabazi’s explanation has cleared the air about claims that the celebrations were postponed because there are suspicions of ADF rebels attacking the country around that time.

However, the state visitors were not named and the Minister in charge of the Presidency and KCCA, Mr Frank Tumwebaze said, “they are visitors of the President so we do not know their names”.

Mr Mbabazi added that government has declared Wednesday January 30, 2013 a public holiday to allow the nation celebrate this day.

Venue unchanged
The venue for the event remains Kasese Stadium, Nyamwamba Division, Kasese Municipality in Kasese District.

The premier advised district leaders to hold district celebrations either on January 30 2013 or thereafter.

This is the first time that the ruling NRM party has not celebrated the event on the date on which it captured power after six years of fighting a guerrilla war.

stumwebaze@ug.nationmedia.com