During celebrations for the NRM’s 24th year in power on January 26, 2010 President Museveni awarded medals to 190 people for their role in Uganda’s liberation wars.

The national function had passed as any other previous ones under the NRM reign until a member of one of the families of the decorated “heroes” threw in a spanner.

Samuel Olara, son of Maj. Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello on Feb. 28 wrote an “open letter” to President castigating him for demonising his father while he was still alive and failing to consult the families of the deceased before giving them the medals.

“These medals, you said were “merely for participation without any significant contribution to the struggle.”  Yet I know for example that Gen. Tito Okello and Maj. Gen. David Oyite Ojok were overall commanders of the Ugandan contingent, Gen Bazilio Olara Okello commanded the infantry A Coy that broke the back of Amin resistance at Lukaya and subsequently captured Kampala; Brig Smith Opon Acak commanded the E Coy that went on to unfetter the Eastern Axis. One wonders therefore what exactly the President is insinuating by “insignificant contribution.”