UPDF starts construction of national military museum

President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, on Tuesday laid a foundation stone to commence the construction of the Uganda National Military Museum at Katonga Bridge in Mpigi district.

The event coincided with the launch of activities to mark the 40th Anniversary of the birth of UPDF where the president thanked the force, especially its Doctrine department for finally documenting the unique and special history of NRA where ordinary people without significant external support and a rear base took up arms and defeated a national army routed in colonial history.

According to Museveni, this hasn't happened in many parts of the world with the exception of Cuba and China.

On that note, he said that the museum offers people an opportunity to study and understand the factors that helped the struggle to succeed.

President Museveni applauded Lt Gen Pecos Kuteesa for the choice of the construction site.

"This is a better business proposition. Because people here will stop on the way to Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi."

According to the president, Katonga is not only unique to the NRA but it was also an epicenter in 1979 between Brigade 201 of the Tanzanian Army and Amin's Army with Palestine.

The minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Adolf Mwesigye thanked the President for taking the time to grace the occasion of commissioning the Military Museum and launching the activities leading to the celebration of 40years of UPDF. 

"Ugandans have all the reasons to celebrate the 40 years of UPDF because over this period, the National Resistance Army, now UPDF, has made a lot of fundamental achievements with securing the lives, property and indeed the future of the people of Uganda and consolidating the total peace in Uganda which we are all witnessing today," Minister Mwesigye said, according to an official statement.

He commended the predecessor of UPDF, NRA, for the tireless efforts towards ensuring that Uganda as described by foreign visitors and investors as a land of peace, prosperity and an island of peace in the Great Lakes Region.

He added that the UPDF is now a professional force with robust human and technical capability to protect and defend the territorial integrity of Uganda.

The Chief of Defence Forces, General David Muhoozi, noted that the 40th Tarehe Sita anniversary will be conducted under the theme "Celebrating UPDF at 40 Years: Fruits of a fulfilled Partnership of Maintaining and Consolidating the People’s Security, Stability and Prosperity."

The UPDF will carry out wide-ranging activities as part of the UPDF's Corporate Social Responsibility and they will include; medical outreach activities, sanitation and hygiene, civil engineering works, education and sports support related activities among others.