President Yoweri Museveni has been awarded the top and most prestigious medal of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), the Katonga star medal.
This was during the 42nd Tarehe Sita Celebrations held in Mbarara City.
Museveni was awarded for his track record and described as unmeasurable, nationalist, democrat, Pan-Africanist and Statesman.
The Awards committee noted that Museveni consistently struggled against tyranny and misrule in Uganda since his school days in the 1960s.
Throughout the 1970s he formed and led the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) in the anti-Amin struggle.
FRONASA rose to about 10,000 combatants and played a decisive role in the crossing of the Kagera defeating Uganda Army (UA) in 1979, after several attempts of Mbarara attack in 1972.
Around 1979/80, he formed and led the Uganda Patriotic Movement on a platform of (UPM) clean leadership, Peace and unity, among other values, winning many hearts of the youths of Uganda.
The Activists were to be the firm foundation for the Protracted Peoples’ struggle in the 1980s.
He led NRA/NRM in the war of Resistance and National Liberation 1981-1986 that was won on the basis of self-reliance, sacrifice, a clear vision, mission, objectives and good leadership on all strategic, operational and tactical issues.
He formed and nurtured the National Resistance Army/ National Resistance Movement (NRA/NRM) and led them to victory, having won and brought on board the masses of Ugandan in their social economic diversity.
The NRA which at one time rose to over 100,000 Officers and militants was the largest Army Uganda has ever had.
He spearheaded the conversion of many intellectuals of country men and other members of the society to join the struggle.
He built the mass movement NRM almost starting from scratch.
Katonga star
The honour was named after the final and decisive battle of the National Resistance Army during the 1986 bush war which was fought near the Katonga River.
The battle happened on October 13, 1985 when government troops and NRA rebels encountered each other in a battle at the strategic bridge on Katonga River.
Tarehe Sita
Celebrated on February 6 every year, Tarehe Sita a Kiswahili statement for sixth day is when 40 combatants took to the Luweero bushes through the attack at Kabamba on this exact date to launch an epic five-year struggle that ushered the National Resistance Movement into power.
The attack on Kabamba led to the formation of the National Resistance Army which later metamorphosed into the current army, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces.