The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), together with leaders in the greater Mbarara area has launched the Army Week in preparation for the 42nd Tarehe Sita anniversary. 

The launch in Mbarara district was presided over by internal affairs state minister Gen. David Muhoozi, animal husbandry state minister Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama presided over the one in Isingiro district, and defence minister Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja presided over Mbarara city launch.

The ministers thanked the population in Greater Ankole for their sacrifice during the bush war. This year’s Tarehe Sita celebrations will be held in the greater Mbarara region at Kakyeka Stadium.

Rwamirama accompanied by UPDF officers and Isingiro leaders to plant a tree during the Tarehe Sita army week launch. (Photo by Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

UPDF director of human rights Col. Deo Karikona said the decision to focus on greater Mbarara formed the choice of this year’s theme: Recognising the Sacrifice of the Founders of the People’s Revolution for Social Economic Transformation.

At the Isingiro district launch, which was held at the district headquarters, Rwamirama paid tribute to the revolutionaries and the UPDF family for its continued role in ensuring that peace and security is not only realised in Uganda, but also across Africa. He added that UPDF is committed to further taking care of the common security of Ugandans. 

He expressed his solidarity with UPDF's strategic partners for the support during its time of infancy phase one (1970-1986) when it was vulnerable. 

Muhoozi urged the district leaders to always select well-disciplined people for UPDF recruitment. He also challenged the population to play a bigger role in helping the army to maintain the prevailing peace and that they should also use the same peace to foster development in their areas and incomes for their families.

Karikona said since its inception, Uganda’s revolution was launched with a mission of causing a social metamorphosis of Uganda’s society from a backward, traditional and peasant society to a prosperous, modern industrialised middle-class skilled working and knowledge-based society that will benefit from a Pan African framework. 

For this Tarehe Sita, UPDF has erected statues and monuments aimed at preserving the history of the struggle and saluting the extraordinary contribution of the many sons and daughters of the country to the struggles of the 1970s and 1980s.

He believes history is the biggest industry for the future generation to appreciate where the country has come from and the need to guard and sustain the gains of the revolution. 

Brig.Gen. Eng. Besigye Bekunda, who represented the Chief of Defence Forces at the Isingiro launch, said the activities of the Army Week are to recognise the sacrifice of the founders of the people’s revolution for socio-economic transformation.

Rwamirama accompanied by UPDF officers and Isingiro leaders take a group photo after launching Tarehe Sita army week in Isingiro. (Photo by Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

He added that while the main symbolic activities shall be carried out in greater Mbarara, the army shall undertake other activities throughout the country where these units are deployed.  

Leaders want UPDF to take over government projects

Bukanga county Member of Parliament Stephen Kangwagye and other leaders in Isingiro requested the Government to allow the army's engineering brigade to take over the construction of all government projects. 

Bukanga North Member of Parliament Nathan Byanyima said involving UPDF in all construction projects will help to eliminate corruption from government programmes.

 Isingiro vice-chairperson Annet Kamaama said they have realised value for money in the few projects done by UPDF in the area.