President Yoweri Museveni has applauded the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) for the significant roles it has played in the country since its birth in the 1980s. Museveni speaks this while presiding over the 43rd Tarehe Sita anniversary celebrations organized at Busesa play ground in the Eastern Bugweri district.
Museveni in his remarks, pledged intensified security in the region, Africa, as the country embarked on recruiting educated persons in the army, police, prisons and world life authority who are capable of protecting, keeping law and order, comparing to the previous governments that were recruiting illiterate foreigners.
“Am glad that am speaking this when all these countries are here. Our security challenges are regions, you find terrorists in Somalia, DR Congo, Mozambique, Central African Republic and some times in South Sudan. So we need regional collaboration and of course we are working very well,” he added.
The Tarehe Sita that kick-started with several activities carried out by UPDF across Busoga districts the theme: “Celebrating the people’s struggle for unity, security and peace for social economic transformation, is an annual celebration to recognize the efforts of patriotic militants that attacked Kabamba army barracks and led a revolution against the undemocratic regime of President Militon Obote.
During the colorful ceremony amidst heavy downpour, some children of the militants who were publicly shot by Idi Amin firing squad during the war were awarded medals. These include the children of Nkoko, Engineer Kasadha, Mbigiti, Ali Kirunda Kivejinja and Lubanga among others.
According to Museveni who first made a courtesy visit to the home of the late Kivejinja who died from Covid-19 in 2020, 800,000 people were killed by the then governments between 1966 and 1986. 300,000 were killed in the Luwero triangle.
Museveni who commended the Busoga sons for supporting the struggle, said he started operating from Busoga in 1971 when he brought twelve sub machine guns from Tanzania to Iganga on a train.
“We put the guns in boxes and rented a room where we left to Namasagali in Kamuli district after fearing that residents and authorities would be suspicious about our stay in Iganga with boxes. We returned to Iganga, picked our boxes and traveled to Kampala and we had a camp in the forest in Kityerela in Mayuge district,” he said.
Museveni added that the liberation was not only by their efforts but also the contributions of Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere and Samora Mashel the former president of Mozambique. The Ugandans who admitted the correct ideas of the NRA militants on security, economy and others also played important roles in the struggle as they didn’t ignore the determined warriors.
He noted that the country’s economic status could grow more but it has been undermined by corrupt elements which the president advocated for a comprehensive fight against the selfish individuals who dont care.
Museveni however, advocated for proper rationalization of resources, maintaining that the wetlands shall not be utilized for growing rice and other crops which has dried it with little financial benefits. He vowed to return to Busoga to sensitize residents on how swamp edges could be used to support growth of rice and other crops.
The first deputy prime Minister and the minister for Eastern African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, asked the President to initiate the education of mineralogy at the regional institutions of higher learning for Busoga children to participate in the mining of the rare metals and other mineral resources discovered in Bugweri district and the surrounding areas.
Kadaga called for completion of Bugweri district headquarters that whose foundation was laid by the late Ali Kirunda Kivejinja which Museveni confirmed that the UPDF engineering brigade shall swiftly take action.
The UPDF weekly activities that comprised of community engagements, sensitizations, health camps, benefited a total of 935 patients who were treated by the UPDF personnel supported by the districts medical experts.
