Brigadier General Rugumayo Abdul, Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence, has urged Ugandans not to take the country’s 40 years of uninterrupted peace for granted, warning that carelessness could undermine national security.
He made the remarks this morning at CMI Headquarters in Mbuya, where officials from the Office of the President, UPDF, Uganda Prisons Service, and Uganda Police Force participated in Corporate Social Responsibility activities as part of the 45th Tarehe Sita celebrations.
The day began with a parade, the national anthem, and a briefing on the day’s activities. Officers armed with brooms, hoes, rakes, spades, and slashers were deployed to Nakawa, Kasokoso, and Bugolobi, where they cleared grass, opened water channels, removed litter, and collected garbage. After the exercises, teams returned to Mbuya UPDF Referral Hospital before dispersing.
Brig. Gen. Rugumayo highlighted that this year’s Tarehe Sita theme focuses on protecting the gains of the revolution, noting that Uganda has enjoyed decades of peace. He cautioned that without vigilance, peace could be lost, citing instability in neighboring Congo, which has forced over 600,000 refugees into Uganda.
He added that the UPDF’s annual community service is a way for the army to give back to the people and that, while the main Tarehe Sita celebrations will take place in Kigezi, UPDF units across the country are engaging in general cleaning, classroom painting, and toilet maintenance.
Local residents welcomed the initiative. Frederick Ruhindi, NRM flag bearer for Nakawa, said the people of Bugolobi were excited to work alongside the army, noting such unity was rare under previous governments. Mubiru Salim, Bugolobi Market chairman, thanked the President, UPDF, and partners for improving hygiene. Residents and market workers, including Nsabamana Meris, Sarah Buule, Otema John Bosco, and Mwesige Tadex, expressed relief that the cleanup had improved sanitation and business conditions.
The exercise is part of the broader Tarehe Sita spirit, aimed at strengthening the bond between the UPDF and the communities they serve.
