The Uganda peaples’ defence forces (UPDF) serving under the African union mission in somalia (Amisom) have this morning joined the rest of their counterparts to mark Tarehe Sita. The day is marked every year on the 6th Feb to remember the launch of the protracted peaples’ liberation war that brought the NRA/ NRM to power in 1986 in Uganda.The exercise which was launched at sector one base camp Mogadishu on Saturday the 5th by the commander of the UPDF Contigent Brig Gen en Keith Katungi who was represented by his deputy Col David Opero was concluded on Sunday the 6th of February.
The celebrations saw the UPDF involved in several civil military activities that brings them closer to the communities they serve. This is premised on the historical role the Wanainchi played during the liberation struggle that lasted 5 years from 1981-86. Talking to the attentive Somali nationals at the Marina market,where the final event was held, Brig Gen Katungi thanked the somalia peaple for supporting UPDF in particular and Amisom in general since 2007. “All we have achieved here is because of you. We landed at Helena in 2007, we advanced to Km 4, captured the stadium, liberated the whole of Mogadishu, with your support. We thank you very much” Brig Gen Katungi said.
At the Marina market, Brig Gen Katungi led the UPDF soldiers to clean the market. They were joined by market vendors and Wannainchi from the nearby communities in the exercise. The Wanainchi through their vice Chairman Mr Muhammad Dahir expressed gratitude to the UPDF for the help they continue to extend to the communities. ‘We thank the UPDF for being close to us all the time for our mutual benefits’ Mr Dahir said.
During the event, the UPDF medical team vaccinated Wanainchi against COVID 19 at the Marina market and also collected plastic materials at Mogadishu beach at the Indian ocean as one way of keeping the environment safe and clean.
A number of peaple vaccinated thanked UPDF for bringing the service closer to them. “I wanted to vaccinate,but had failed to find where to find the service” an elderly woman said after recieving her jab. ‘Thank you UPDF, thank you Amisom, may the almighty Allah bless you’ she prayed before the UPDF medical team.
The day was also commemorated with a route March by UPDF soldiers from Halena base camp to Marina market, a distance of 4 kms. Led by their commander Brig Gen Katungi, soldiers marched as they sung and danced to liberation war songs.
At the end of the activities, Brig Gen Katungi handed over tens of f litres of sanitizer and liquid soap to the market vendors to help them prevent the spread of COVID -19