Following the ban on the traditional pomp, mammoth crowds, military parades, medal-awarding ceremonies and rotational district hosted celebrations, this year’s event was held virtually and restricted to 25 invited guests drawn from the Executive, Parliament, Judiciary, and religious institutions, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
By Moses Lokeris
As Uganda on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, marked 37th Heroes’ Day anniversary virtually at State House Nakasero Entebbe, a section of residents in Kotido Municipality shared their views about what day means for them and people whom they consider as their heroes nd heroines.
Heroes’ Day is celebrated annually on June 9th to honor individuals who made exceptional sacrifices in the country’s liberation struggles and national development.
The national holiday traces its historical roots to the 1981–1986 Bush War in the Luwero Triangle.
The day specifically commemorates the historic sacrifice of Edidian Mukiibi Luttamaguzi and other civilians in Kikandwa Village, Luwero District, who were executed on June 9, 1981, for protecting the hiding locations of National Resistance Army (NRA) rebels.
This year’s event was commemorated under the theme “Protecting the Gains as We Make a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.”
The theme focuses on the government’s commitment to safeguarding national achievements while accelerating economic and social transformation.
Following the ban on the traditional pomp, mammoth crowds, military parades, medal-awarding ceremonies and rotational district hosted celebrations, this year’s event was held virtually and restricted to 25 invited guests drawn from the Executive, Parliament, Judiciary, and religious institutions, according to the Office of the Prime Minister
In Kotido Municipality people who spoke to our reporter in separate interviews, shared their perspective about the day, with a majority expressing not knowing the meaning of the day and the annual celebration date.
Norah Otyang, alias Miss Queen, noted that such a day reminds her of the people who have created change in her life and always been there for her.
Jimmy Abeche, a boda-boda rider in Kotido Municipality, told our reporter that he went to pick up children to take to school in the morning, only to be bounced at the school gate because it was a public holiday.
Abecha added that it seemed like even the parents of the children did not know that it was a public holiday; otherwise, they would not have let him ride the children to school in the first place.
Daniel Loyitakituk Lochoto, a resident of Lopeduuru, revealed that most of these public holidays are losing meaning to the locals due to a lack of awareness and in-depth meaning of the holiday.
Lochoto expressed that he and other neighbors just realized that Heroes Day is designated and celebrated on a day like this.
Michael Master King Lokong told our reporter that, on such a day, he recalls the former president of Uganda, H.E. Idi Amin Dada, as his lifetime hero.
He highlighted that Amin’s regime tirelessly ensured that service delivery was prioritized and never tolerated corruption.
