RDC Nalongo Rose Kirabira officially launched the 37th Tarehe Sita Day Celebrations on Saturday at the Comprehensive Secondary School in Entebbe under the theme : Re-affirming the Contribution of Armed forces towards Regional Integration for our strategic security, development and prosperity and as the practice has been, the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) engaged in different activities which included cleaning exercises at Abaita Ababiiri, Entebbe Hospital and other parts in Entebbe Municipality to commence the Tarehe Sita week. The UPDF has also set up a medical camp at Comprehensive S.S where locals from different parts of Entebbe will receive free medical check-ups and treatment for a number of ailments including Laboratory services, antenatal care services, dental check-ups and HIV Testing.
The UPDAF Spokesperson Arthur Timbaganya revealed that by engaging in different community initiatives, the UPDF continues to uphold the role played by the wanaichi (locals) during the five-year liberation struggle that brought President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to power in 1986.
The Special Forces Command Spokesperson Capt. Jimmy Dennis Omara disclosed that other East African countries have borrowed a leaf from the exemplary UPDF and the Tarehe Sita Day celebrations and will adopt an army week that will be celebrated annually in their respective countries.
“This year’s Tarehe Sita Day celebrations are unique because for the first time, other East African countries have sent a contingent of about 15-30 army officers who have joined Uganda in the celebrations after a resolution was passed by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) defense committee. Starting next year (2019) the Tarehe Sita celebrations will be rotated among the respective East African Countries with a goal of fast tracking the East African Integration process”, Capt. Jimmy Omara explained.
On her part RDC Kirabira hailed the UPDF for the role played in securing Uganda’s borders in addition to fostering peace efforts in the region including war torn Somalia. RDC Kirabira hailed President Museveni for the steadfast leadership and also thanked the UPDF for the spirit of patriotism and integrating well with the neigbouring civilian communities.
She urged Ugandans to be exemplary and disciplined like the UPDF officers and avoid waiting for hand-outs. RDC Kirabira called on Ugandans to shun sectarianism and learn to take charge and own the different animals that are given to them under the various government programs such as operation wealth creation (OWC) that are aimed to lift them out of poverty.
The Tarehe Sita Day is celebrated annually on February 6th in remembrance of the first gun shots that were fired at Kabamba Barracks in 1981 to start the liberation struggle. The National Celebrations will be held in Butaleja District on February 6, 2018. Entebbe will hold the celebrations on February 9, 2018 at the Comprehensive S.S.
