The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah has officiated at the National launch of the 38th Tarehe Sita Anniversary Celebrations (Defence Forces Week) at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters at Mbuya hill in Kampala.
The 2019 Defence Forces Week to be held in the districts of Agago, Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, Nwoya, Omoro and Pader, will be celebrated under the theme: “UPDF and the People. Consolidating Peace for Sustainable Development and Prosperity.”
The annual and rotational Defence Forces Week aims at recognizing the birth of NRA/UPDF that fought to transform the history of this country so that democracy, peace, security and socio-economic transformation can be restored. The week is also celebrated to thank the people for their role in sustaining peace in the country.
In his speech, Hon Jacob Oulanyah called upon Ugandans to help in shaping the direction of their country by avoiding divisions based on territory, tribe, religion, sex or geographical location.
“Let no mountains, rivers, lakes, or any other thing divide us because we are all united in blood. Divisions should not fault the foundations of our friendship since we know where we came from, where we are and where we ought to be,” he noted.
He advised Ugandans to use the past in shaping the future by emulating Professor Johns Hopkins quote that says that a nation cannot be a nation without its past, and the past should not be used for dividing the people but rather be used for developing the people.
Hon Oulanyah further noted that a nation that keeps one eye in the past and the other in the future survives as opposed to one that perishes by keeping both eyes in the past.
Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Hon Adolf Mwesige noted that the strategic guidance by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has enabled UPDF to consolidate peace and security which has facilitated the transformation of Uganda.
“As a pro-people Force, our strategic partnership with the civilians has made a huge contribution on the international globe, evidenced by UPDF component in AMISOM and East African Standby Force (EASF), added Hon Mwesige.
The Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi emphasized that UPDF trades in providing a critical public good that is peace; which must be translated into sustainable development and prosperity. Gen Muhoozi added that the historic role of UPDF in transforming Uganda cannot be over emphasized without highlighting the contributions of the people throughout the protracted struggle.