The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Oboth-Oboth, has announced that this year’s 44th Tarehe Sita Anniversary celebrations will take place in the Greater Masaka region, marking yet another opportunity for the government and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to give back to the community.
The celebrations will be held under the theme: “Celebrating Pan-African Solidarity and the Peoples’ Sacrifice in Struggle for Freedom and Democracy for Socio-economic Transformation.”
Speaking today during a consultative meeting with Members of Parliament from the region at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya, Hon. Oboth-Oboth expressed gratitude to the people of Masaka for their strategic partnership with the UPDF.
“I want to congratulate the people of Greater Masaka for being so lucky to be chosen for this year’s celebration. You may not know how many requests this ministry receives every year. It takes the effort of the Ministry and the Army together to give back to the community. And the greater Masaka has been picked,” said Hon. Oboth-Oboth.
He highlighted that Tarehe Sita, which commemorates the launch of the National Resistance Army’s (NRA) liberation struggle on February 6, 1981, is a unique celebration. “It is the only government initiative that gives back without formalities, involving itself in tangible projects that people can see, however small,” he noted.
Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo, the Member of Parliament for Lwemiyaga County, also expressed his pride in the celebrations being hosted in the Masaka sub-region. “We are lucky that this year’s celebrations are taking place in the Masaka sub-region. We are proud to be associated with the 6th of February, the launch of the liberation of our country, Uganda,” he said.
Hon. Ssekikubo applauded the UPDF’s pre-celebration activities in the region, which include the construction of school structures and the organization of free medical services. “This makes it most relevant when people benefit directly from the UPDF and share in the achievements of the liberation of this country,” he added.
The Chief of Joint Staff, Maj Gen Jack Bakasumba, emphasised the historical significance of the Tarehe Sita celebrations, noting that since 1981, they have symbolised the partnership between the army and the people of Uganda. “Every February 6, commencing from 1981, the army and the people of Uganda join hands during the Defense Forces Week to engage in activities aimed at cementing the strategic relationship that exists between the population and the defence forces,” Maj Gen Bakasumba said.
He also highlighted Masaka’s pivotal role in Uganda’s history, stating, “In the final phase of the armed struggle (1985-1986), Masaka was the launch pad of the decisive battles before the fall of Kampala.” Maj Gen Bakasumba further underscored the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by Ugandans and Tanzania’s contribution to the liberation struggle.
The activities will be held in the districts of Bukomansimbi, Kalangala, Kalungu, Kyotera, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Masaka, Masaka City, Rakai, Sembabule and culminate in Kyotera District on 6 February 2025, with various activities lined up to honour the day.
The event, which is rotationally hosted in different regions, was previously held in the Busoga and Mbarara sub-regions.
Present at the meeting were: Ministers, Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretary (MoDVA), Mrs Rosette Byengoma, Joints Staffs, Generals, Senior Officers, and Leaders of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
