Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) will February 6 celebrate Tarehesita which marks the National Resistance Army’s first attack on Kabamba barracks in Mubende in 1981 that sparked off a five- year liberation war.
Tarehe Sita, which means the sixth day of the month in Kiswahili, is celebrated annually in Uganda in commemoration of February 6, 1981.
In preparation for the event the army last week launched Tarehesita activities across the country.
Speaking to the army officials and civilians in Masulita, Wakiso District on Thursday, the Chief of Staff for Land Forces, Maj. Gen. Leopold Kyanda reminded the nation that it was the attack on Kabamba Barracks that resulted into liberation struggle which has since played a great impact on the social, economic and political transformation of Uganda.
In his speech, Kyanda recognizes efforts by the 27 combatants and 14 civilians who sacrificed their life for Uganda to fight for justice and good leadership.
Below is his full speech;
Today the UPDF launches again the annual Army week and Army day 2020 celebrations with the people of Masulita, Busiro North.
The event is celebrated by the people of Uganda in general and the UPDF in particular commemorating the founding of the NRA.
In 1981, twenty-seven (27) armed and fourteen (14) unarmed patriots attacked Kabamba Military barracks which sparked off the liberation struggle.
The Kabamba attack ignited the population to join the self-liberation struggle in the country in which it became a protracted people’s war and has forever altered the trajectory of Uganda.
Tarehe Site celebrations, therefore, mark and recognise the courage, heroism and gallantry exhibited by forty-one patriots who built the foundation upon which the UPDF rests today.
The peoples’ army and a vanguard force has effectively achieved some great milestones in social economic transform of the country.
Today, the UPDF recognises these noble sacrifices which were made by these people who selflessly gave themselves to liberate this country and their contributions have surely entered the history books as Heroes.
We applaud them!! Many of them paid the ultimate price of shedding their blood and as a peoples’ revolutionary Army, UPDF commemorates our peoples’ struggle for social, political and economic transformation and also recognises those contributions throughout history.
We salute those gallant men and women, both in combat and non-combat, who provided the enormous support in both human and material resources.
And Greater Luwero, and Masulita in particular, has a special significance to the liberation of the country especially because it was home for NRA’s first units and operational bases for fighters, was a manpower source, food basket, training ground, source of informers/intel and spring base for liberation struggle. In on effort to keep that unique relationship alive, the UPDF has since adopted and customized the tradition of celebrating Army week and Army Day (T6) on a regional rotation basis as a token of appreciation for their contribution towards the Liberation struggle.
This year’s events and associated activities are to be held in the Greater Luwero districts and today we are launching here at Kiziba Health Center in Masulita Sub-county, Busiro north.
In this period, the UPDF will conduct Civil-Military (CIMIC) activities as a gesture of giving back to the people and reconnecting to them.
Today, we witness the UPDF Engineers carrying out renovation of the maternity ward at Kiziba HC III, CMS will conduct health care targeting common ailments in the region, mobile dental clinic, eye clinic and mobile fumigation. This year’s theme is,” CONSOLIDATING THE UPDF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE TO GUARD THE GAINS OF LIBERATION”. Indeed, the UPDF is consolidating these gains and will continue to build this relationship. I thank you all and wish fruitful celebrations.