SFC commandos excite guests at independence celebration

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BUSIA - The combat martial arts skills displayed by a team of 29 commandos from the Special Forces Command (SFC) exacerbated the excitement of the guests and the crowd during the 62nd independence anniversary.

President Yoweri Museveni presided over the celebrations hosted at Busikho Primary Teachers College grounds in Masafu town council in Busia district on Wednesday (October 9) under the theme: “Independence: A re-commitment to Secure and Fortify our Destiny."

Many people were seen climbing onto tree branches to catch a glimpse at the specialised military techniques displayed by the physically young commandos.

SFC commandos excited guests with combat martial arts at independence celebrations. (Credit: PPU)

The display included: fighting using knives, action of one man against two, one against three, call for action weapon combination, female soldiers breaking blocks using their hands, walking barefooted on nails, sleeping on the nails with our a shirt and jumping through the ring of fire characterised the displays among other martial arts actions that mesmerized the audience.

Since 1962, every October 9 highlights a significant milestone in Uganda's history: the day the country broke free from British colonial rule.

Since then, the country has made significant progress in various sectors, despite facing numerous political conflicts since gaining independence.

President Museveni was accompanied by his special guest, the President of the Central African Republic (CAR), Prof. Faustin-Archange Touadéra who thanked Museveni for effectively representing the people of Uganda and for transforming Uganda into a good country for national unity.

He was ushered into the grounds by a delighted and cheering crowd. 

A few minutes to 11:00am, the President mounted atop a bullet-proofed military parade van to inspect the joint independence parade mounted by the military, police, prisons and wildlife commanded by Col.Deo Akiiki, the deputy army spokesperson and deputized by Lt.Col. Kenneth Wabwire.

Guests

The list of guests who graced the event included the Vice President, Jessica Alupo, the chief Justice, Owiny Dollo, Deputy Speakers of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, the national vice chairperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Moses Kigongo, the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabanja, the first deputy Prime Minister and minister of East African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, NRM party general secretary, Richard Todwong, among others.

It also attracted diplomats from the European Union, France, Ireland Belgium, Australia, Eritrea, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Equatoria Guinea, and Rwanda, among others.

The minister of Presidency, Milly Babalanda on behalf of the organizing committee that this year’s independence celebrations marked exactly 120 years of the 1900 agreement that entrenched colonialism in the country.

Babalanda used the occasion to thank God for the gift of life to the President who recently celebrated 80th birthday.

“For God to keep you alive as our democratically elected President, shows that God still has a purpose for you to do,” she said.