Tarehe Sita Day: Counting the army’s achievements since 1981
Tarehe Sita Day is in remembrance of the first attack on February 6,1981 that launched President Yoweri Museveni's guerrilla war. The theme for the celebrations tomorrow is “Sustaining stability: a gain of the people’s revolution and the base for Prosperity-for-All.â€
Tarehe Sita Day is in remembrance of the first attack on February 6,1981 that launched President Yoweri Museveni's guerrilla war. The theme for the celebrations tomorrow is “Sustaining stability: a gain of the people’s revolution and the base for Prosperity-for-All.†Below is a statement by the Minister for Defence, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga.
Introduction
The NRM revolution was carried out by the people, using their sons and daughters who formed the National Resistance Army (NRA) and now re-named the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Through this revolution, the people returned sovereignty to themselves as embodied in the Constitution.
The people will use this power to sustain stability and transform themselves to achieve irreversible social progress; from a peasant society to a middle-class industrialised society.
Many attempts have been made by counter revolutionaries to take away the people’s power. But the people, working with their army and using the process of assimilation and rejection, have resoundingly defeated these insurgents and moved on.
The achievement of irreversible transformation and social progress will require no compromise on the issue of stability. For without stability, no sustainable progress can be achieved.
Below is outlined of the achievements to date. The counter revolution attempts to derail the fundamental changes are also shown.
Achievements on the economic and social fronts
- Reversal of economic decline and inflation and sustaining GDP growth rates of over 6% for nearly two decades.
- Ending severe shortages of supplies
- Reduction of poverty from 56% of population below poverty line to 31. The Prosperity-for-All programme has been defined and is being implemented so that we ultimately banish poverty and create a wealthy society.
- Attraction of both domestic and foreign investments into the economy.
- An energy fund has been created and soon we shall have significantly increase power supply to drive our industrialisation and transformation programme. In addition, we have made progress towards exploitation of petroleum resources and soon we shall start using our own oil.
- Massive expansion of road and telecommunication infrastructure.
- Massive expansion in education through free primary and secondary education programmes and increased university education.
- Access to health care services has been increased. Universal access to immunisation has markedly reduced infant mortality rates. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is progressively being contained.
Access to safe water is now nationally over 60%. Life expectancy is now rising.
The political front
- The return of sovereignty of the people
- Constitutionalism and rule of law
- Respect for human rights
- Mass democracy
- Regular, free and fair elections
- Freedom of expression and association
- Decentralisation
- Affirmative action for marginalised groups
Stability and security
- A stable macro-economic environment
- A capable peoples army, the UPDF
Peace and security in most parts of the country.
- The North, following the defeat of LRA, has now been stable with calmness and peace for the last two years
- Karamoja is also being stabilised
- Intensity of raiding has reduced
- Highway ambushes have reduced
- Attacks on districts neighbouring has been reduced to isolated incidents and will soon be a thing of the past.
Attempts made by the counter revolutionaries to destabilise the country.
The role of neighbouring countries and governments
-The Zaire (DRC) under late President Mubutu supported NALU and Allied Democratic Front (ADF).
-The Khartoum government also gave support to the ADF and the LRA.
- The Sudanese government for a long time gave sanctuary and support to both LRA and ADF.
Key elements in achieving and maintaining stability.
The role of the army
The army, relying on patriotism and sacrifice, fought off insurgents that have been attempting to overthrow the people’s revolution. Two points are sufficient to illustrate the sense of sacrifice and patriotism.
Firstly, the soldiers until recently and only in a limited way, have been living in mama ingiya pole (Madam enter slowly).
Secondly, relative to other armies the NRA/UPDF has been using a relatively small percentage of GDP as the budget to facilitate their work.
The role of the people
In all the struggles, the army has kept close contact with the population. Right from the beginning of the struggle, the people were central. In the Luwero triangle, the people provided their sons and daughters, materials and cover to execute the war.
Through the local councillors and clandestine committees, the people discussed issues of Ugandan politics and the struggle. In the North, we still have close to 10,000 local defence unit (LDU) personnel, working with the army.
In the Lango and Teso sub-regions, the people made it clear that they had nothing to do with the LRA insurgency. The population demonstrated their resolve through the registration of vigilante groups.
In Teso, they were called the Arrow Boys, while in Lango, they were known as Amuka militia. After the defeat of the insurgency in the North and the eastern parts of the country, these vigilante groups have been demobilised. Many of them have been absorbed into the Police and the army. The rest are now back home and will form part of the reserve force. In Buganda, at the time Itongwa declared his insurgency, some vigilantes were recruited as Special Police Constables (SPCs) who were instrumental in the defeat of Itongwa.
In the Rwenzori sub-region and the districts of Kibaale, Hoima and Mubende, voluntary vigilantes turned up to work with the army and the ADF rebels were defeated.
Conclusion
As we celebrate 27 years of the Army day, Tare Sita, it is evident that Uganda has made progress in the socio-economic sectors and set to make even greater advances. Stability has been the base from which progress has been made and will continue to grow.
The Army has grown in strength and is even better prepared to work with and for the people to sustain stability in the country. In addition, the army plays a role in the stabilisation of the rest of Africa.
The UPDF now plays a role in peace-keeping missions on the continent. Last year, the Commander in Chief, having been authorised by Parliament, deployed the army to Somalia as part of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
However, it must be emphasised that stability should not be taken for granted. We must remain vigilant to guard against forces that may wish to destabilise us again.
The partnership between the people and their army must be kept at all times. Our firm words must be no compromise on the issue of stability.
Happy Tarehe Sita to all Ugandans.
Introduction
The NRM revolution was carried out by the people, using their sons and daughters who formed the National Resistance Army (NRA) and now re-named the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Through this revolution, the people returned sovereignty to themselves as embodied in the Constitution.
The people will use this power to sustain stability and transform themselves to achieve irreversible social progress; from a peasant society to a middle-class industrialised society.
Many attempts have been made by counter revolutionaries to take away the people’s power. But the people, working with their army and using the process of assimilation and rejection, have resoundingly defeated these insurgents and moved on.
The achievement of irreversible transformation and social progress will require no compromise on the issue of stability. For without stability, no sustainable progress can be achieved.
Below is outlined of the achievements to date. The counter revolution attempts to derail the fundamental changes are also shown.
Achievements on the economic and social fronts
- Reversal of economic decline and inflation and sustaining GDP growth rates of over 6% for nearly two decades.
- Ending severe shortages of supplies
- Reduction of poverty from 56% of population below poverty line to 31. The Prosperity-for-All programme has been defined and is being implemented so that we ultimately banish poverty and create a wealthy society.
- Attraction of both domestic and foreign investments into the economy.
- An energy fund has been created and soon we shall have significantly increase power supply to drive our industrialisation and transformation programme. In addition, we have made progress towards exploitation of petroleum resources and soon we shall start using our own oil.
- Massive expansion of road and telecommunication infrastructure.
- Massive expansion in education through free primary and secondary education programmes and increased university education.
- Access to health care services has been increased. Universal access to immunisation has markedly reduced infant mortality rates. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is progressively being contained.
Access to safe water is now nationally over 60%. Life expectancy is now rising.
The political front
- The return of sovereignty of the people
- Constitutionalism and rule of law
- Respect for human rights
- Mass democracy
- Regular, free and fair elections
- Freedom of expression and association
- Decentralisation
- Affirmative action for marginalised groups
Stability and security
- A stable macro-economic environment
- A capable peoples army, the UPDF
Peace and security in most parts of the country.
- The North, following the defeat of LRA, has now been stable with calmness and peace for the last two years
- Karamoja is also being stabilised
- Intensity of raiding has reduced
- Highway ambushes have reduced
- Attacks on districts neighbouring has been reduced to isolated incidents and will soon be a thing of the past.
Attempts made by the counter revolutionaries to destabilise the country.
The role of neighbouring countries and governments
-The Zaire (DRC) under late President Mubutu supported NALU and Allied Democratic Front (ADF).
-The Khartoum government also gave support to the ADF and the LRA.
- The Sudanese government for a long time gave sanctuary and support to both LRA and ADF.
Key elements in achieving and maintaining stability.
The role of the army
The army, relying on patriotism and sacrifice, fought off insurgents that have been attempting to overthrow the people’s revolution. Two points are sufficient to illustrate the sense of sacrifice and patriotism.
Firstly, the soldiers until recently and only in a limited way, have been living in mama ingiya pole (Madam enter slowly).
Secondly, relative to other armies the NRA/UPDF has been using a relatively small percentage of GDP as the budget to facilitate their work.
The role of the people
In all the struggles, the army has kept close contact with the population. Right from the beginning of the struggle, the people were central. In the Luwero triangle, the people provided their sons and daughters, materials and cover to execute the war.
Through the local councillors and clandestine committees, the people discussed issues of Ugandan politics and the struggle. In the North, we still have close to 10,000 local defence unit (LDU) personnel, working with the army.
In the Lango and Teso sub-regions, the people made it clear that they had nothing to do with the LRA insurgency. The population demonstrated their resolve through the registration of vigilante groups.
In Teso, they were called the Arrow Boys, while in Lango, they were known as Amuka militia. After the defeat of the insurgency in the North and the eastern parts of the country, these vigilante groups have been demobilised. Many of them have been absorbed into the Police and the army. The rest are now back home and will form part of the reserve force. In Buganda, at the time Itongwa declared his insurgency, some vigilantes were recruited as Special Police Constables (SPCs) who were instrumental in the defeat of Itongwa.
In the Rwenzori sub-region and the districts of Kibaale, Hoima and Mubende, voluntary vigilantes turned up to work with the army and the ADF rebels were defeated.
Conclusion
As we celebrate 27 years of the Army day, Tare Sita, it is evident that Uganda has made progress in the socio-economic sectors and set to make even greater advances. Stability has been the base from which progress has been made and will continue to grow.
The Army has grown in strength and is even better prepared to work with and for the people to sustain stability in the country. In addition, the army plays a role in the stabilisation of the rest of Africa.
The UPDF now plays a role in peace-keeping missions on the continent. Last year, the Commander in Chief, having been authorised by Parliament, deployed the army to Somalia as part of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
However, it must be emphasised that stability should not be taken for granted. We must remain vigilant to guard against forces that may wish to destabilise us again.
The partnership between the people and their army must be kept at all times. Our firm words must be no compromise on the issue of stability.
Happy Tarehe Sita to all Ugandans.