The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has called on Ugandans to stand together with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) as the country prepares to mark 45 years of Tarehe Sita and the upcoming Defence Forces Week.
Delivering the CDF’s message at the Uganda Media Centre, Major General Henry Masiko, the UPDF Joint Staff Political Commissar, said this year’s activities will be held earlier than usual to avoid coinciding with the national election period.
Gen. Muhoozi, who also serves as Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, emphasized the historical significance of the Kigezi sub-region, noting its contribution to the liberation struggle through the early FRONASA networks that evolved into the NRA and ultimately the UPDF.
“The people of Kigezi stood by the revolutionaries during some of the most trying moments of the 1970s and, in many cases, paid the ultimate price,” his message noted.
He praised the region’s continued loyalty and said its sacrifices remain central to the peace and stability the country enjoys today. He added that Defence Forces Week is designed to reconnect the UPDF with citizens and celebrate the shared journey toward national security.
“These events remind us of the people’s steadfast support, which empowered the NRA/UPDF to achieve victory after victory, overthrowing oppressive regimes and paving the way for national peace and progress,” he stated.
This year’s activities will be held across the six districts of Kabale, Kisoro, Rukungiri, Rukiga, Rubanda, and Kanungu. Planned community engagements include free medical and surgical camps, donation of scholastic materials, women empowerment drives, environmental conservation, traditional performances, and sports events.
Brigadier General Michael Kibuye, Director of Civil-Military Cooperation, said the commemorations will promote collaboration between government agencies, private sector partners, the media, and local leaders.
Colonel Dr. Francis Xavier Bakehena, Head of Public Health in the UPDF, announced that free health services will be provided at two locations in each district, while Major Engineer Albert Mukama, Operations and Training Officer of the Engineers Brigade, detailed upcoming works, including nine classroom blocks, five staff houses, six sanitation units, a maternity ward, bridges, market shelters, and road upgrades expected to be completed by 6 January 2026.
The 45th Tarehe Sita celebrations will run under the theme: “Defending the Gains of the Revolution and Honouring the Sacrifices of the Freedom Fighters: A Call for National Unity, Peace, and Socio-Economic Transformation.”
