The Uganda People’s Defence Forces – UPDF has officially transferred several vital community facilities in Rubanda District ahead of the 44th Tarehe Sita commemorations scheduled for February 6 in the Kigezi sub-region.
Among the completed projects are a maternity ward at Bubare Health Centre III, a four-stance pit latrine at Hamurwa Primary School, and a two-classroom block at Burorero Primary School.
In addition, the UPDF provided delivery beds and mattresses to Rubanda District General Hospital, Hamurwa Health Centre IV, and Bubare Health Centre III to enhance maternal and overall healthcare services.
During the handover ceremony, Col Okei Rukogota explained that the mattresses were financed through the UPDF’s savings and credit cooperative, Wazalendo SACCO, rather than the Ministry of Defence, and described the initiative as an expression of solidarity with the communities in which the forces serve.
“This assistance demonstrates the dedication of our officers and troops to promoting the welfare of the citizens we protect,” Col Rukogota stated.
On behalf of the Rubanda District Chairperson, Mary Tushemereirwe expressed gratitude to the UPDF and the government for choosing Kigezi as the venue for the national event, emphasising that these developments would deliver long-term benefits to education and healthcare provision.
She also praised the UPDF for its close collaboration with local communities, its support for youth skills development, and its role in reinforcing government initiatives like the Parish Development Model.
Maj Gen Don Nabaasa, representing the Chief of Defence Forces, noted that comparable community initiatives have been carried out throughout the Kigezi sub-region in connection with Tarehe Sita activities.
“The Tarehe Sita events are held in different regions each year and consistently include medical outreach programmes alongside infrastructure assistance,” Maj Gen Nabaasa remarked, explaining that Kigezi’s selection acknowledged its significant role in the country’s liberation struggle.
Rubanda Resident District Commissioner Eric Sewangidi commended the UPDF for the contributions and highlighted the effective partnership between security forces and local authorities in mobilisation and public service delivery.
The chief guest, State Minister for Defence in charge of Veterans Affairs, Huda Oleru Abason, stated that the projects illustrate the UPDF’s broader commitment to safeguarding the achievements of the revolution beyond purely military duties.
“Such efforts highlight that protecting the revolution involves enhancing people’s lives and advancing socio-economic progress,” Huda Oleru Abason observed.
She encouraged leaders and citizens to utilise available land productively and collaborate to boost household incomes, pointing out that this year’s Tarehe Sita theme underscores the sacrifices of the liberation struggle and the importance of ongoing civil-military partnership.
