BY LYNUS XAVIER KULE
As part of their activities to commemorate 43rd Tarehe Sita, UPDF and other sister security agencies have embarked on general cleaning and conducting community barazas around Hima Town Council.
Tarehe Sita, a Kiswahili word meaning the sixth day, commemorates the February 6, 1981 when the five-year guerilla war that brought President Museveni to power was launched, with an attack on Kabamba Military Barracks.
This year’s national celebrations will be held on tomorrow at Bugweri district headquarters under the theme, “Celebrating the people’s struggle for unity, security and peace for social economic transformation.”
Today morning, the UPDF and police jointly cleaned some streets in Hima and Rugendabara – Kikongo Town Councils as a way of strengthening their cordial relations and cooperation with the civilians.
While dispatching a joint security team at Hima Government Health Centre III, Mr. Zepher Mubingwa, the Kasese Deputy RDC in-charge of Busongora County, challenged the armed forces to use the celebrations to strengthen their cooperation with the community members through cleaning the respective towns.
He also used the same podium to hail the community members for their support to the armed forces in the process of restoring peace in the region.
Col. Saul Nabimanya, the Commandant for the 222 Mountain Brigade said they decided to clean the towns as an indication that the armed forces are friendly to the local community members.
Mr. Stephen Bagonza, the acting Kasese District Health Officer, appealed to the people to borrow a leaf from the UPDF and police who have spent a period of one week carrying out some general cleanliness around most towns across the district.
According to him, it is a good practice of the people to live in a clean environment that is free from diseases.
In her remarks, Ms Hilda Businge W’abukombi, the Hima Town Council L. C III Chairperson applauded the UPDF for the good work done of cleaning the town as well as securing Kasese district from the ADF insurgents.
Meanwhile, the former Kasese District FDC Chairperson and Rwenzori Regional FDC Commissioner, Mr. Saulo Maate has lashed at government for allegedly misusing the tax payers’ money through organizing what he termed as unnecessary celebrations like Tarehe Sita.
Maate, who addressed the press at the Kasese FDC branch offices in Kasese town today afternoon, said money used in organizing such celebrations to have instead been, directed towards the development schools and health facilities that he said are still wanting.
He also used the same platform to caution some NRM politicians in Busongora County North against using the pledges that President Museveni recently made to the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu as a spring board for their political campaigns.
ENDS