Tarehe Sita: UPDF soldiers clean Namawojjolo Market

Officers of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) 79th Brigade located at Mpoma in Mukono district have cleaned Namawojjolo Market and the surrounding areas along Kampala-Jinja highway.

According to the 79th Brigade's commanding officer, Maj. Hannington Kigula, the cleaning that was done on Tuesday was in commemoration of Tarehe Sita which is celebrated every February 6.

Maj. Kigula said the newly formed rebel National Resistance Army (NRA), on February 6, 1981, made their inaugural assault on the national army, which triggered the beginning of the five-year protracted liberation war which brought the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government into power in 1986.

Addressing residents after the cleaning exercise, Kigula expressed the army's commitment to work hand in hand with the sister forces including the Police to wipe out terrorism and other criminal activities from society.

He said the UPDF was set up on the foundation of subordination to civilians and that this is the reason why they continue to come back to society for communal activities like the commemoration of the day of their birth.

"We remain committed to working with civilians and other security forces like the Police to ensure that agents of insecurity like cattle thieves do not commit crime with impunity and walk away scot-free," Kigula said.

He said they are now left with the fight against people who plant, sell and those who consume marijuana, which he called a common practice in the district.

Councillor Davis Lukyamuzi who joined hands with the army men said the community was appreciative on the good things they have always engaged in, which has bridged the gap between the army and the civilians.

A resident of the area identified as Ssegujja Kiwanuka was saddened to note that many vendors were more concerned about selling their items instead of joining the army to clean their workplaces.

"We are weak and lack mobilisation, but even when soldiers volunteer to help us, some of us remain seated in our workplaces with garbage heaps gazing at us, instead of expressing appreciation to the soldiers by joining hands with them," Kiwanuka said.