Tarehe Sita: Museveni lays stone for military museum

Tarehe Sita: Museveni lays stone for military museum
On Tuesday, a sizeable number of Ministers, Local leaders, UPDF Generals and Senior Officers at Katonga joined President Museveni as he launched the 40th Tarehe Sita activities and laid a foundation stone of the National Military Museum at Katonga bridge in Mpigi district.  
Speaking at the event, Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs  Hon Adolf Mwesige, said all Veterans whose payments are pending, but files complete will be paid by January 2021.
Adolf MwesigeIn his speech, President Museveni said finally UPDF has remembered to keep its rich history by beginning to construct a Military Museum at Katonga.
“I’m happy I’m witnessing the meaning of the name “Otafiire” now I can see good things.”
Museveni launching Tarehe SitaHe said anyone would be interested in knowing the factors that led to the successful liberation struggle.
He added: “The Museum at Katonga is a good idea. The history of the NRA is unique and special, where an ordinary person led a few people without much external support and rare base. Save maybe China and Cuba.”
Addressing press at Media Centre on Monday, UPDF Chief Political Commissar (CPC), Major Gen Henry Masiko, said Tarehe Sita, (T6) is an annual event celebrated by the people of Uganda in general and the UPDF to commemorate the 6th of February 1981.
It is the day of the founding of the National Resistance Army, now the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, (UPDF).
40 years ago, on the 5th Feb 1982, 41 patriots started their journey from Masaka which signalled the commencement of a determined resistance in the form of a popular and protracted struggle by a people against a regime.
Tarehe Sita celebrations, therefore, mark and recognize the heroism and gallantry exhibited by those forty one patriots, who made the foundation upon which the UPDF rests today.
Celebrating Tarehe Sita is also a noble recognition of the sacrifices made by thousands of gallant men and women both in combat and non-combat that provided enormous support in both human and material resources.
This year’s theme Celebrating UPDF at 40: “Fruits of a fulfilled partnership of maintaining and consolidating the people’s security, stability and prosperity”.
At 40 years, the UPDF has continued good collaboration between the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force and the people.
“As from my background as a freedom fighter don’t expect that we pride in any situation where lives are lost or lives feel threatened,” Matsiko said.