The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), working together with the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda Prisons Service, have carried out a series of community service exercises across Nakawa Division as part of the 45th Tarehe Sita activities.
The clean-up operations covered several areas, including Nakawa Market, Bugolobi and Kasokoso, where soldiers and officers swept roads, unclogged trenches and collected garbage.
Launching the exercise, the Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Brig Gen Abdul Rugumayo, said the annual Tarehe Sita period allows the army to reconnect with the communities it serves, while reflecting on the roots of Uganda’s liberation struggle.
“This is the time when those who fought for this country return to the people and show that we are still here,” he said. “Everything we enjoy today is built on sacrifices made 45 years ago.”
Although the national celebrations are being hosted in the Kigezi sub-region this year, Brig Gen Rugumayo noted that all UPDF units are expected to carry out activities in their respective areas. The Defence Intelligence and Security unit chose Nakawa because it is their base of operation.
He added that beyond the symbolic value, community service can help residents adopt better waste-handling habits. “If people see how it’s done, maybe society will become more orderly,” he said.
Brig Gen Rugumayo also appealed to journalists to guard against misinformation, warning that distorted content on social media continues to mislead the public. “People pick five words and twist the message. You, the media, should be good ambassadors,” he urged.
Kasokoso LC1 Chairman Ali Mwamba said residents appreciate the army’s continued support, which has included fumigating the village to curb bedbugs, helping build a shared health facility for Kasokoso and Kireka D, grading roads, and donating cement for LC office construction.
At Nakawa Market, trader representative Mudasi Joseph encouraged vendors to join in the clean-up, saying the exercises help strengthen relationships between civilians and the military.
This year’s 45th Tarehe Sita activities are being conducted across the districts of Kabale, Kisoro, Rubanda, Rukungiri, Kanungu and Rukiga, ahead of the national celebrations scheduled for February 6, 2026, in Kabale.
Senior officers who participated included Col Nicholas Happy Nyesiga, Lt Col Eriab Mubangizi and Lt Col Ronald Kakurungu, among others.