By Patrick Jaramogi
KITGUM, Uganda: President and Commander-In-Chief of the UPDF, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has echoed his earlier stand of crashing any force that tries to destabilize the country.
Speaking at the 38th Tarehe Sita anniversary since NRA launched its struggle, Museveni said the army is more equipped today than ever before. The celebrations were held at Kitgum Core Teachers College in Kitgum Municipality, Kitgum District in Acholi Sub-Region. “The army is now well equipped to secure Uganda from any forces of destabilization. Nobody can disturb our peace. Anyone who thinks of destabilizing Uganda, will destroy themselves,” he warned. Gen. Museveni who was accompanied by his Wife, and Education Minister Janet Kataha Museveni said UPDF was the answer to several but futile previous governments efforts to develop a national army. “UPDF was founded on the right ideologies, discipline, patriotism, Pan- Africanism and the socio- economic transformation agenda. The President said the National Resistance Army (NRA) which later became Uganda People’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has managed to grow from strength to strength in the last 38 years because it was founded on the right ideology that emphasized discipline, patriotism, Pan-Africanism and the socio-economic transformation agenda. He said that the UPDF started by liberating, pacifying and guaranteeing peace and security in the entire country.
Some 38 years ago on February 6th 1981, the then NRA launched the liberation struggle by attacking Kabamba Barracks. Museveni said that although there had been attempts by several post-colonial Ugandan governments to build a National Army, they all failed because the different governments and groups had failed to clearly identify and determine the purpose, ideology and character of such a national force. They instead ended up developing forces that lacked a clear ideological orientation, were indisciplined and lacked a national character, it was no wonder that Uganda failed to develop a national army until the liberation forces of the National Resistance Movement came to power in 1986, He added
President Museveni’s Full speech here:
At the genesis of the struggle and formation of the NRA, we had to answer the question; what army does Uganda need? There had been attempts by several post-colonial Ugandan governments to build a National Army, they failed because they ended up developing forces that were indiscipline and lacked a national character. Indeed, Uganda failed to develop a national army until the liberation forces of the National Resistance Movement came to power in 1986. This army has managed to move from strength to strength because it was founded on the right Ideology that emphasized; discipline, patriotism, Pan-Africanism and the socio-economic transformation agenda. We resolved that our army must; 1- be patriotic/love Uganda, 2 have a pan-Africanist outlook because Uganda needs its neighbors for markets and security to survive, 3- must be interested and contribute to the Socio-economic transformation of the country, 4- Must be disciplined and respect the people, because it is the people that produce the army, and finally it must work for democracy. This is the foundation of the NRA and now UPDF. This foundation has enabled us to carry out infrastructural development like roads from one end of the country to another. On development, we are moving very well, most of the major roads in the region have been tarmacked. Government is in the process of working on the Atiak-Adjumani-Laropi-Yumbe Northern Uganda is becoming the centre of Uganda as far as electricity is concerned, the following power generation dams are soon coming on board; 650MW from Karuma, Agago 88MW, Ayago when completed will produce 840MW. This will provide a base for the economy. On the issue of the Apaa land, this is a problem caused by leaders who want cheap popularity at the expense of the people, I have listened to the issues, and we shall get a solution. Leaders should stop making statements that inflame wanainchi.
I thank Ugandans for supporting the army in bringing peace to this sub region and Uganda in general,” M7 said.
