The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Armed Forces, General Yoweri Museveni, has directed the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning together with that of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, to work out an immediate intervention to maize farmers who have been affected by the low price of the crop in Busoga sub-region. General Museveni was presiding over Tarehe Sita Day celebrations yesterday to mark the 29th anniversary of the founding of the then NRA now UPDF held at King of Kings Secondary School in Iganga district, Busoga sub-region. The colorful ceremony that was characterized by a spectacular parade by officers and men of Uganda People’s Defense Forces, the Police, Prisons and the civilian community, was celebrated under the theme “Sustaining National and Regional Security for Development”.

Several army officers were also awarded the Luweero medals in recognition of their contribution in the protracted armed people’s struggle against dictatorship in Uganda.

The President who attributed the decline of maize prices to the bumper harvest last season, advised the people of the area not to panic. He, therefore, called on the Ministry of Finance, and Economic Planning, to ensure that all the produce is not wasted but milled into flour for both human and animal consumption.

General Museveni was in a jovial mood and marched with a lot of energy taking almost two steps at ago to the podium amid ululations and chanting from the gathering of “Akyali Mboko” or is still strong, congratulated the army upon reaching the 29th birthday of NRA now UPDF. He said that the NRA struggle was a continuation of earlier struggles against colonialism. He added that the NRA/NRM struggle was more organized and its success became a pillar to other struggles in the region. He cited the struggle in Rwanda, Southern Sudan and South Africa saying Uganda stood by all of them.

He noted with satisfaction the professionalization process now taking place in the forces citing the presence of engineers, medical doctors and builders who can get engaged in community work. UPDF is currently working on several projects in Busoga sub-region that include, among others, construction of a class room with an office at St. Lawrence Primary School Muterere in Bugiri district, water projects, health facilities as well as a road project in different parts of the region. 

During the army week, the medical team that had been directed to remain in the area for another two weeks, treated patients in the region of various ailments. 

“The projects the army is undertaking manifests that they are obedient to the people,” General said.

The President, in his opening remarks, strongly criticized those elements that are peddling lies in Busoga Sub-region that the road between Jinja and Bugiri would not be completed.

“Those who tell such lies are now exposed because the Jinja-Bugiri road has been completed. They should remove those lies from their heads,” he told the excited crowd. He added that Busuta – Mayuge road will also be worked on.

Commenting on NAADS programme, General Museveni clarified that it is intended to demonstrate to peasants that people can get rich through commercial farming. He said even farmers who use their own capital to start projects are very useful because they become examples to the rest of the population.

General Museveni praised the army for their SACCOS called WAZALENDO which, he said, has saved Shs. 13 billion.

“If soldiers who are always on the move can save Shs.13 billion, how can the ordinary people fail to set up a similar SACCO?”, he wondered.

On education, the President reiterated his call to parents not to accept any charges by school administrations in government UPE progamme schools. He also appealed to all wanainchi to help a department – Drug Monitoring Unity – that has created in his office to ensure that government drugs are not stolen from government hospitals.

The Minister of Defence, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, explained the purpose of the Army Week activities saying they are an accountability to the people whereby those activities allow wananchi to assess the army as well as giving the population the opportunity to see the progress of the revolution in terms of development and transformation. Dr. Kiyonga added that the aim of the Army Week is taken as a forum to hear what the people perceive and say about the UPDF.

The Minister reported that “80 percent of the population assesses the army positively because of the institution’s high standard of discipline.”

Dr. Kiyonga further told the gathering that on the day of launching the Army Week, one of the leaders in Mayuge district stressed the need to jealously guard the peace now prevailing in the country.

“When we launched the Army Week in Mayuge, one of the area MPs said that what he saw in the September riots made him realize that peace should not be taken for granted,” Dr. Kiyonga said.

The Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), General Aronda Nyakairima, described Tarehe Sita day as a very important one in the history of Uganda.

“The day marked a turning point in our history when the struggle that culminated into the removal of dictatorship in Uganda was launched,” he said.

General Aronda who outlined the state of the army which, he said, has grown quantitatively and qualitatively, paid tribute to all those who contributed to the liberation struggle. He noted that their struggle enabled the country to attain the freedom and peace now prevailing in Uganda. He assured all Ugandans of the UPDF’s commitment to consolidating that peace.

General Nyakairima disclosed that East African countries are now engaged in joint military exercises aimed at creating a force that can timely respond to any security threat in the region. He added that the same efforts and cohesion by a combined force from Uganda, the DRC, Central African Republic and Southern Sudan dealt Kony and his group a heavy blow. 

General Nyakairima hailed the people of Busoga sub-region in general and Iganga in particular for making the Army Week and the main celebrations a success. He added the region was selected for this year’s Tarehe Sita celebrations in recognition of the contribution by its residents to the defeat of Alice Lakwena and her Holy Spirit group in that area.

Iganga district LC5 Chairman, Mr. Asumani Kyafu, commended President Museveni and the National Resistance Movement Government for the positive achievements registered in all sectors in the country. 

“Mr. President, I think the whole world is admiring Uganda because of you,” he remarked.

The area MP, Milton Muwuuma Kalulu, praised President Museveni for building a well disciplined pro-people army.

Later, President Museveni travelled to Bugiri district to launch one of the projects undertaken by the UPDF at St. Lawrence Primary school in Muterere, Bukholi County. He told wanainchi of the area that they are reaping the fruits of having voted wisely. He pledged that the army is going to engage in bigger projects like the construction of railway lines.

The President also travelled to Kamuli district and commissioned a water project at Butende, which Ws constructed by the UPDF. He assured the people of the area that the army today has experts capable of doing many things.

Commenting on the issue of the Kyabazingaship in Busoga Sub-region, President Museveni advised the people of the area to use the constitution to resolve that problem.