In Somalia, Ugandan troops commemorate the 41st Tarehe Sita.
The UPDF took part in many civic military events throughout the celebrations, bringing them closer to the people they serve.
On Sunday, Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel deployed in Somalia under AMISOM joined the rest of their colleagues to commemorate the 41st Tarehe Sita celebrations.
The drill, which began on Saturday at sector one base camp in Mogadishu with the commander of the UPDF Contingent Brig Gen Keith Katungi and his deputy Col David Opero, was completed on Sunday, February 6.
The UPDF took part in many civic military events throughout the celebrations, bringing them closer to the people they serve.
Brig Katungi praised the Somalis for their support of the UPDF in particular and Amisom since 2007. He spoke to the attentive Somali people at the Marina market, where the concluding event was place.
“You are responsible for what we have accomplished here. We landed at Helena in 2007, we proceeded to Km 4, took the stadium and liberated the whole of Mogadishu with your backing. “Thank you so much,” Brig Katungi expressed his gratitude.
Brig Katungi led UPDF soldiers to clean the Marina market before being joined in the exercise by market traders and locals from the surrounding areas.
The locals, through their vice chairman Muhammad Dahir, thanked the UPDF for the ongoing assistance they provide to the areas.
“We appreciate the UPDF’s constant proximity to us for our mutual advantage,” Dahir remarked.
During the occasion, the UPDF medical team vaccinated locals against COVID 19 at the Marina market and also collected plastic materials at Mogadishu beach at the Indian ocean as one the means of keeping the environment safe and clean.
Several persons who received vaccinations praised the UPDF for bringing services closer to them.
“I wanted to get vaccinated but couldn’t find where to do so.” “I have to thank the UPDF and Amisom for making it possible for me to get vaccinated,” stated an elderly woman.
A route march by UPDF soldiers from Halena base camp to Marina market, a distance of 4 kilometers, was also held to honor the day.
The UPDF soldiers marched while singing and dancing to liberation war songs, led by their commander Brig Katungi.
Brig Katungi gave over tens of litres of sanitizer and liquid soap to market vendors at the conclusion of the activities to assist them in controlling the spread of COVID -19.
Sita Tarehe
Tarehe Sita is commemorated every year on February 6th, when 40 warriors marched to the Luweero bushes on this date in 1981 to attack Kabamba military barracks, kicking off a historic five-year struggle that propelled the National Resistance Movement to power.
The attack on Kabamba prompted the foundation of the National Resistance Army, which later evolved into the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the modern army.
