BY S KWAGALA: Uganda is set to host the annual African Liberation Day celebration, a day recognized and celebrated by Pan Africanists across Africa and around the world as Africa Day.
This commemoration, which has its roots in the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, marks each year’s progress in the liberation of Africa and symbolises the determination of the African people to free themselves from the yoke of foreign domination and exploitation.
The origins of African Liberation Day date back to April 15, 1958, when African Freedom Day was first declared. However, on May 25, 1963, thirty-one African Heads of State convened to establish the OAU and renamed African Freedom Day to African Liberation Day, changing its date to May 25th. Today, the African Union (AU) continues to honour this significant day.
Since the 7th Pan African Congress held in Uganda in 1994, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has served as the Patron for the Global Pan African Movement. The movement’s current chairman is Gen. Kahinda Otafiire. The upcoming celebration in Uganda will not only honour historical progress but also reflect on the ongoing efforts and achievements in the fight for African unity and self-determination.
As Uganda prepares for the festivities, it stands as a symbol of the enduring spirit of African solidarity and resilience. The event is expected to draw participants from across the continent and the diaspora, uniting under the common goal of celebrating African heritage and progress.