UPDF’s big guns

THE display of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) arsenal during the 16th NRM day celebration tells a lot. It is testimony to the transformation from a rebel group into a regular army with the capacity to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda. In 1986 the army had no sizeable military hardware to show but following years of growth, the UPDF is maturing.National defence is the priority of all governments in the world, Uganda cannot be exceptional. Powerful countries have strong and heavily equipped armies to ensure national security. Every year they spend large sums of money on modern weapons. It is imperative for every country to have a strong and modern army in readiness of any threat. Investing in defence does not necessarily depend on immediate threats, a country must all the time be prepared for war. Having seen part of the UPDF weaponry Ugandans can be rest assured that the army is in possession of equipment that can effectively defend them. It also confirms that UPDF is being modernised and professioalised. Furthermore it accentuates the defeat of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), because the big guns displayed were previously at the battle fronts ,against the two terrorist organisations, but are now silent. But irked opposition politicians have lit a rumour that the parade was intended to intimidate them. That is a desperate act of twisting issues to their advantage. Huge parades and arm shows take place in many countries as part of national festivities the same happened in Uganda on Saturday. Contrary to opposition rhetoric the military might display was a public audit of what is in the armoury. Since the equipment is procured from tax-payers’ money they have a right to see what has been bought.