The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa today praised the skills displayed by the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF).
“You have won the trust of our people and I ask you to do everything possible to protect it. We have many questions about other government agencies but not the UPDF. For every failed project, people now want us to hand it over to the UPDF.” said the Rt. Hon. He is not known
The Deputy Speaker was speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Anniversary of Tarehe Sita and Military Week at the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs in Mbuya, Kampala.
Rt. Hon. Tayebwa pleaded with the UPDF not to abandon God and reminded the congregation that God has always been on the side of the UPDF in all wars. Reflecting on the battle between David and Goliath in the Bible. “In that story, we see the NRA that transformed into the UPDF. No one could have given you a chance to fight the established Government army but because God was on your side, you emerged victorious,” the Deputy Speaker said.
The Chief Guest appreciated the sacrifices made by the brave UPDF personnel for working every day to keep the country and its people safe. He equally appreciated the spirit of Pan-Africanism evidenced by the UPDF’s participation in peacekeeping operations.
The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja said this year’s celebrations in Mbarara and Greater Mbarara as a way to thank the people for their tremendous support in the liberation struggle.
Chief Of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi has said that the symbolic traditional Civil Military operations will be conducted in the Greater Mbarara Sub Region.
He said the UPDF is an army with a sound ideological basis avoiding partisan tendencies, while fully embracing the interests of the country.
He added that the pro people stance and the promotion of military-civilian relations remained the military’s main source of invisibility.
He enumerated that several activities including, Engineering Works, Medical and Sanitation Awareness Programmes, etc., will be carried out by the UPDF in the Greater Mbarara Sub Region, although similar activities will be replicated in the areas other national interests.
He said the celebrations are the start of the theme-driven activities
“Appreciating the commitment of the pioneers of the social revolution for socio-economic change”.
He added that Mbarara has never hosted Tarehe Sita outside Mbarara City.
“We chose the Region after planning consultations on the region, these Defece Forces operations are a symbol to our strategic partnership with the wanainchi, it’s giving back to the people due to their importance in what we were doing right firm.” the FRONASA and to-date.” “.”.
Keynote speaker and co-founder of FRONASA and now Minister of State for East African Community Affairs, Hon Min Magode Ikuya noted that they are not politicians in the pursuit of peace and stability in the country.
“Our attitude was simply to find a solution to the problems faced by the country at the time without any political ambition, we looked at the anti-colonial struggle which formed part of the ideology that drove our ideas”. Mr. Magodi Understood.
Today’s launch was also attended by the Minister of State for Defense Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth, the Minister of State for Veterans Affairs Hon Huda Abarson Oleru, Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretaries, Leaders from the in Greater Mbarara, Senior Officers, Senior Officers of… Sister Security Forces, and others.
The events will cover Mbarara, Kazo, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Rwampara, Isingiro, and Mbarara City districts