The Launch in Metropolitan Kampala was prised over by the UPDF Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi
While enumerating a number of interventions that will include sanitation, engineering works, and medical outreaches across Kampala’s five divisions, Mbadi equated UPDF to the biblical ten lepers who were given resources but only one came back to appreciate and account for what was given to him.
“To celebrate this day, the UPDF has since adopted and customized the tradition of celebrating defense forces’ week and Tarehe Sita on regional rotation basis where it carries out various civil-military cooperation activities intended to recognize, thank and give back as a token of appreciation to the people of Uganda,” Mbadi said.
This year’s Tarehe Sita will run under the theme: “Celebrating UPDF at 40; fruits of the fulfilled partnership of maintaining and consolidating peoples’ security, stability, and prosperity.”
According to Mbadi, the theme speaks volumes to the struggle in regard to the social-economic transformation of Uganda and Kampala city’s expansion from seven hills to over now 21 hills which is a manifestation of development.
“Indeed Kampala Metropolitan area has experienced significant urban growth, as an industrial centre, commercial hub, an educational centre all which are vital to the countries’ social-economic transformation and growth”, he said.
The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Beti Kamya, who was the chief guest informed UPDF officers that the community is ready to participate and support UPDF in all the activities adding she is happy that the activities are taking place in her own home of Lubaga division as well and that as a former wife to a fallen comrade UPDF is always her home.
KCCA’s executive director, Dorothy Kisaka, in her address to the gathering applauded the UPDF for the timely intervention to address the city challenges of sanitation and waste management as a social corporate responsibility and for playing a role in food distribution and security during COVID 19 crisis.
On Sunday, January 3, 2021, soldiers led by Col Ibrahim Keddy together with UPDF first division spokesperson Maj Bilal Katamba kicked off the activities by constructing latrines in ghetto areas of Kampala district.
In the process, they fumigated houses and also distributed mosquito nets, masks, and condoms to the ghetto people of Makerere Kivvulu, Kasubi, Kawaala, Kisenyi, and the suburbs of Kampala district.
UPDF first division spokesperson Maj Bilal Katamba said that this year’s theme is “Celebrating UPDF at 40, fruits of a fulfilled partnership of maintaining and consolidating the people’s security, stability, and prosperity.
He added that they are undertaking different projects in Kampala metropolitan area and greater Masaka as a way of giving back to people.
“As you see, we have constructed public toilets in the ghetto places of Kampala, cleaning different health centers, renovating schools, fumigating houses, distribution of mama kits, sanitary pads, masks, condoms, and also mosquito nets,” he added.
