Museveni: Forgetting History Jeopardizes Uganda's Future

President Yoweri Museveni has articulated a fundamental principle for national development: understanding history is crucial for comprehending the present and planning for the future. The President’s remarks were delivered by Vice President Jessica Alupo at the 9th Benedicto Kiwanuka Memorial Lecture.

Museveni highlighted that commemorating figures like Benedicto Kiwanuka, Uganda’s first Chief Justice, offers a vital opportunity to reflect on the nation’s historical trajectory, the evolution of its institutions, and the persistent efforts to establish a robust constitutional order.

“A country that does not understand its history cannot understand its present and, therefore, cannot understand its future,” stated Museveni, underscoring the lecture’s significance. He added that the occasion serves as a moment to contemplate Uganda’s journey, institutional growth, and the ongoing duty of citizens to foster a society where justice, peace, and stability are intertwined.

Chief Justice Flavian Zeija echoed these sentiments, stressing that remembering Uganda’s past is integral to securing its future. Zeija described the memorial lecture not just as a tribute to an individual, but as a reflective platform for Uganda’s historical path and institutional development.

Zeija further emphasized the imperative of making justice universally accessible, irrespective of an individual’s financial status, social standing, or location. “Justice must be accessible to every person,” he asserted, calling for its availability to all, including the poor, the vulnerable, and those in remote areas.

He concluded by noting that the true measure of justice lies not merely in case disposal rates but in the public’s perception of fairness, impartiality, and accessibility in the judicial process.

Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/371092/museveni-nation-that-forgets-its-history-cannot-understand-its-future