Ugandans have been advised to retrace their history and acknowledge the contributions of their brothers and sisters towards the success of the liberation struggle.
The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja made this remark while launching the 41st UPDF Tarehe Sita Anniversary Civil – Military activities and Defence Forces Week at the Boma Grounds in Kapchorwa.
” It’s important to know where we have come from, where we are and where we are going to have a modern Uganda, she said.
Premier Nabbanja noted that it has been a deliberate effort by UPDF to secure the lives and property of the people premised on their earlier contributions to the struggle. Hon Nabbanja emphasized that out reach efforts of supporting communities demonstrates that UPDF is truly a Peoples’ Army.
She thanked UPDF for the discipline, sacrifice and hardwork that has led to the total pacification of the country and also exported peace to countries like Somalia and South Sudan. “Our Pan-African spirit has made us move beyond borders and neutralized wrong elements in Somalia and South Sudan,” she remarked.
The Prime Minister also commended UPDF for contributing to the country’s infrastructural growth, saying UPDF constructs timely, cheaper and affordable quality infrastructure.
She gave the example of the Bulambuli resettlement project which was constructed by UPDF engineers to accommodate people affected by landslides.
She, however, urged residents in Bugisu and Sebei sub-regions to embrace intensive agriculture and adopt the Parish Development Model to improve their quality of lives.
The premier also planted a tree at the high altitude training stadium in Teyret, out of the 5000 trees donated by Million Trees International Organisation to save the environment.
The Minister of State for Defence in charge of General Duties Hon. Jacob Markson Oboth assured locals that UPDF is committed to securing Uganda and urged them to protect the achievements of government.
Hon. Sam Mangusho Cheptoris, the area Member of Parliament and Minister of Water and Environment applauded UPDF for the community activities in the Elgon Region.
Speaking àt the same launch, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Peter Elwelu commended the President and Commander -In – Chief of the UPDF for leading the struggle for peace and security.
He noted that UPDF supports communities through minor civil and health works to remind them of the togetherness that led to the restoration of peace and security.
” We are here to serve you with peace and security. Peace is everything, with out peace we can’t be here, with out your support we can’t have the peace for the prosperity of everyone, ” the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces explained.
He added that UPDF exists to protect the peace and security that they struggled for and further advised people to maintain the it. ” We accepted to shed blood for the sake of peace,” noted Lt Gen Elwelu.
Prof. Twaha Ali, a scientist from Makerere University advised locals to practice modern and scientific methods of farming since the population has increased yet land has stayed static.
The 28 January 2022 regional launch was also attended by the Minister for Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kimono Kitutu, Members of Parliament and RDCs from the Elgon Region, Local Council Representatives, religious and cultural leaders, among others.
This year’s symbolic out reach community engagements by UPDF in the Elgon Region, held under the theme:
“Retracing the Peoples’ Struggle for Peace and Security for a modern Uganda”, mark the timely historical contribution of the region to the struggle. This is where the struggle was launched.
UPDF will cfonstruct and renovate some selected schools and hospitals, offer Free Safe Male Circumcision, free HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing, plant trees, paint zebra crossings, and offer sanitation and cleaning facilities in the Elgon Region, according to the deputy Chief Political Commissar Col. Nelson Aheebwa.