UPC party president James Akena (M) ready to share a birthday cake. Courtesy photo.
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Last Updated on: 15th March 2023, 04:29 pm
Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party has celebrated its 63rd birthday with sights on the future. UPC was born on March 9, 1960 – two years before Independence.
The party managed to lead Uganda twice, setting known good records, including what others say were “bad”.
Speaking at the party headquarters Wednesday, James Akena – UPC party president said: “….it is at this point that the party takes great reflection from the time of the founding of both Uganda National Congress (UNC) in 1952 that later merged with Uganda Peoples Union (UPU) to give birth to Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) on 9th March 1960.”
Akena, also the son of the Late Dr Apollo Milton Obote added that UPC continued with the core values of UNC and on 9th October 1962, delivered Uganda to Independence. “We acknowledge the contribution of heroes such as Ignatius Kangave Musaazi of UNC, W. W. Rwetsiba of UPU.”
Our founding Father, Dr. Apolo Milton Obote in his paper titled “UPC BIRTHDAY, THE ROLE OF THE UPC IN UGANDA’S INDEPENDENCE”, summarized saying, “On 9th October, the Duke of Kent representing his cousin, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II handed the Instruments of Independence to me, the President.”
To UPC and Uganda, Akena said that was great sacrifice, commitment and achievement, but the long journey for the post-independence struggle had just started.
On the domestic scene, the Party Policy Statement (Manifesto) of March 1962 gave a direction to the Party and its Government, which has underpinned certain aspects of Uganda’s post-independence journey now at 61 years (of Uhuru).
“The Party’s belief in a Welfare State doctrine so as to accelerate greater development in the realization of such necessities like free education, free medical care, maximum employment and adequate food supply” are still very much wanting, including basic needs such as shelter.
