President Museveni awarding the former Commander of Land Forces, Gen Katumba Wamala
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I President Yoweri Museveni is among the 20 medalists set to be honoured during Uganda’s 64th Independence Day celebrations on October 9, 2026, at State House Entebbe.
The development was confirmed by Hajjat Zamina Malole, Chancellor of the Presidential Awards Committee in the Office of the President.
President Museveni will receive the Order of the Commander-in-Chief (Uganda Prisons Service Medal) in recognition of his leadership and contribution to peace and security.
According to the Presidential Awards Committee, the medal is awarded to heads of State and heads of government in recognition of visionary leadership and championing peace and security in the country, the East African region and Africa.
The award is pursuant to Section 3(2), Second Schedule, Part I of the National Honours and Awards Act, 2001, as amended.
The medals will be presented as part of the national celebrations marking Uganda’s Independence Day.
Background
The Order of the Commander-in-Chief (Uganda Prisons Service Medal) is awarded in recognition of his long-standing leadership and contribution to national, regional and continental peace and security.
The prestigious statutory decoration will be presented at State House Entebbe as part of the government’s recognition of 20 distinguished Ugandans during the Independence Day celebrations.
The award places particular emphasis on leadership that has contributed to stability, security and the modernisation of Uganda and its institutions, while also recognising contributions extending beyond the country’s borders.
A statutory national honour
The Order of the Commander-in-Chief is among Uganda’s state decorations provided for under the National Honours and Awards Act, 2001, the legislation that establishes the framework for recognising individuals for distinguished service to the country.
Unlike ordinary awards, state decorations carry a formal national significance because they represent the country’s institutional recognition of exceptional service.
The Order of the Commander-in-Chief is traditionally associated with heads of state and government whose leadership is considered to have made a significant contribution to peace, security, stability and national development.
Museveni’s selection therefore represents an official recognition of his decades at the helm of Uganda and his involvement in regional and continental security affairs.
The award also comes as Uganda marks 64 years since independence, giving it additional symbolic significance. Independence celebrations provide the government with an opportunity not only to commemorate the country’s sovereignty but also to recognise individuals whose service is considered to have influenced Uganda’s development and international standing.
Recognition of security leadership
The citation for Museveni’s medal focuses on his contribution to peace and security at national, regional and continental levels.
Security has been a central feature of Museveni’s political career since he assumed power in 1986. His government has subsequently participated in regional security operations and diplomatic initiatives aimed at addressing conflicts and instability in East and Central Africa.
Uganda has deployed troops in a number of regional peace and security missions, including operations in Somalia, where Ugandan forces have played a significant role in the African Union’s efforts against al-Shabaab.
Ugandan forces have also participated in regional interventions and peace-support operations, making security cooperation an important component of the country’s foreign policy.
The recognition therefore goes beyond Museveni’s role as Uganda’s President and reflects the broader security responsibilities Uganda has undertaken during his tenure.
Leadership and modernisation
The award also recognises what the government describes as Museveni’s contribution to institutional modernisation and national stability.
Since coming to power, Museveni has overseen a period in which Uganda has pursued economic transformation, infrastructure development and expansion of state institutions.
Supporters of his administration credit his government with maintaining relative political and economic stability after years of upheaval and conflict, while critics have questioned aspects of governance, political competition and the longevity of his presidency.
The national honour, however, reflects the official assessment of his contribution as determined through Uganda’s state honours system.
The award’s emphasis on visionary leadership also underlines the role of the presidency in shaping national priorities and Uganda’s engagement with regional and continental affairs.
Part of wider recognition
The Presidential Awards Committee confirmed Museveni’s inclusion among 20 medalists, with the announcement made through Chancellor Hajjat Zamina Malole.
The group of award recipients represents the broader tradition of using Independence Day to honour individuals who have made notable contributions to Uganda.
Museveni’s decoration is particularly significant because the Order of the Commander-in-Chief is a high-level statutory honour associated with the country’s highest political and security leadership.
The award will consequently form one of the major ceremonial moments of the 64th Independence Day celebrations at State House Entebbe.
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