The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) will this week on 6th of February celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Tarehe sita in Mbarara City at Kakyeka stadium.
Tarehe Sita is the day UPDF marks the attack on Kabamba barracks in 1981 which launched the five-year struggle that brought the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government to power 36 years ago. The day is celebrated every 6th of February.
Apart from its main mandate of defending and protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, and the Constitution that encapsulates people’s sovereignty through popular will.
The UPDF has been transformed into a people’s army unlike in the past regimes where people used to associate soldiers or army uniforms with theft, gruesome murders and abductions. The UPDF has now changed the negative perspective about the national army.
We have seen the UPDF in the past and recently engaged in community work where they have been involved in keeping cities and towns clean, recently they were in major markets in big cities and towns cleaning and clearing rubbish from town centers ahead of the 42nd anniversary.
We have seen the UPDF coming in to help out in times of emergencies like landslides, floods, hunger and locusts invasions. On many occasions when the wanaichi can’t help and contain the tough emergency situations, the UPDF always puts their lives on the line to save lives of Ugandans and their properties.
The UPDF has also been involved in several medical camps and the Director of Medical Services Brig Gen Dr. Moses Kiyengo emphasized that the purpose of the medical camp is to work with other doctors and share different techniques, improve their services through training and above all treat patients,” he explained.
He added that they also provide health education to individuals on issues like hygiene, diet, and family planning, among others.
Also key to giving back to communities, the UPDF engineering brigade has on many occasions been contracted to construct roads, bridges ,hospitals, schools and other infrastructures which they have done and delivered not just on time but with assured quality.
The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has revealed plans to rehabilitate over 1000 schools in Ankole sub-region as they celebrate their 42nd Tarehe Sita anniversary.
Army spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye says several activities have been lined up ahead of the celebrations due next week with an ongoing camp underway in the Ankole region.
Recently the UPDF was given a contract to build a perimeter wall around Namboole national stadium and also do renovations within the stadium.
The construction of a two-classroom block at Rwemikoma Model Primary School in Kazo District which was earmarked to benefit from the 42nd Tarehe Sita Anniversary projects nears its completion and will be handed over on 5th February 2023.
On Friday, the 27th January 2023, while launching the week of activities to commemorate the 42nd Tarehe Sita Anniversary celebrations the Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa observed that since the success of the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1986, Uganda has not had any unstable change of government, which he attributed to a true transformation of the army.
“As an army, you have won the confidence of our people. We have many questions on most institutions of government – but we do not have a question on the UPDF because of the strength and stability you have created in the force,” said Tayebwa.
He noted that Uganda’s drive for economic transformation is on course, owing to the security ensured by the UPDF.
These symbolic civil-military activities preceding the national celebrations on every 6th of February, symbolize the bond between the army and the people to maintain peace and eventually ensures the transformation of communities.
