Civilians laud UPDF on sanitary services

Feb 03, 2016

The army is carrying out spraying of bedbugs in the five divisions of the city as part of the activities to commemorate the army Tarehe Sita day.

 

Residents of Kampala suburbs have praised the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) for carrying out sanitation services in their areas.

The UPDF in conjunction with crime preventers are carrying out sanitation services like cleaning Busega market, drainages at Kalerwe, Nateete, and other suburbs.

They have delivered health services, rehabilitation of classes at Nakivubo Blue Primary School, and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) public toilets.

The army men are also spraying bedbugs in the five divisions of the city as part of the activities to commemorate the army Tarehe Sita day which will be celebrated on February 6 (this Saturday).

 

Busega market vice chairperson, Wilson Nkatta said since the market opened in 1998, the UPDF had never visited it to associate with traders and work with the civilians on improving the market sanitation.

"We had never seen the army officers associating with us. Most people were at the start afraid when they saw them until they saw that they were welcoming and friendly," said Nkatta.

He said the army's gesture has helped both parties and that traders have learnt that the army officers are not terrifying as they thought.

The army officers, he said, have also learnt how traders carry out their daily work and how to associate more with them.

Benon Balyogela, a trader in the market, said the army associating with civilians indicates that there is a good connection between the two parties and is confident there is peace in the country.

He added that the army's act to clean places where civilians stay shows that they are not only capable of keeping peace and security but can also offer simple services like cleaning to the civilians.

 oldiers cleaning usega arket in ampala redit eter usomoke Soldiers cleaning Busega Market in Kampala. (Credit: Peter Busomoke)

 
Balyogela said the sanitation in the market is not alarming, adding that they pay sh500 to their management to ensure the market is cleaned regularly.

Racheal Nansubuga, a trader at Busega market, said: "During the 1980s, whenever we could see the army we would run as we knew they were to cause trouble. The army nowadays is disciplined as there are laws that also persecute them when they do wrong."

Nansubuga thanked the army officials for the various services they have offered them and promised to keep supporting them whenever they also need their help.

Lt Col. Ezra Byaruhanga, on behalf of the UPDF team, said this is not the first time they are offering civilian military services, adding that they are doing this every year to give back to civilians.

"We give back to civilians since it is where we came from, it is our obligation to ensure better civilians wellbeing," Byaruhanga said.

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