Uganda, Oct. 11 -- To many, the awarding of medals at national celebrations like Independence Day has been popularised by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
However, it is an old tradition that was started 58 years ago. On October 9, 1962, Uganda gave out medals to deserving citizens for their services to the country even before Independence.
Once such recipient of the Independence medals is 103-year-old Stephen Wagaba, who started serving his country in the 1930's in the Mengo government.
A born of Mengo at the home of Stanislaus Mugwanya, in July 1917, Wagaba joined government service as a clerk to his elder brother Matayo Mugwanya the founding president of Democratic Party (DP).
"When my elder brother Mugwanya was mad...