The army have held thanksgiving prayers to mark the end of the Armed Forces Week and Tarehe Sita activities with a call on officers and men in uniform to further offer themselves as a sacrifice for the prosperity of the country.
Commemorated annually to crown the Armed Forces’ Tarehe Sita activities, this year’s thanksgiving was held on Saturday at Mubende Rehabilitation Centre (MRC), a home to most soldiers injured in the line of duty.
While officiating at the function, the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs, Alhajji Kirunda Kivejinja thanked the UPDF leadership for making a historic mark of hosting EAC military contingents.
In his speech, he pointed out that the greatest gift of God to man is life and encouraged the soldiers to live and fight with determination so that they are remembered as heroes for their country.
The Minister of State for Defence – General Duties, Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola, thanked the Chief of Defence Forces for deciding that the thanksgiving be held in Mubende.
He thanked the UPDF for ensuring peace in the country and providing an enabling environment for Uganda to develop.
The UPDF Chief of Defence Forces, Gen David Muhoozi recognized the efforts of the Undersecretary for Finance and Adiminstration at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Mrs Edith Buturo for working tirelessly to ensure this event is one of the activities on the Ministry calendar.
He described the event as both cultural and religious.
“We are gathered here to thank God for the lives of the UPDF men and women plus their families, but we should remember that our work is hazardous. However, we shall continue for the sake of the nation and offer ourselves as sacrifices,” Gen Muhoozi said.
In the same tone, the guest Preacher, Bishop Joshua Lwere, encouraged soldiers not to tire sacrificing for their country because their rewards await them in the afterlife.
“Before God, the people who do good have their children blessed till their fourth generation. Soldiers who kill to prevent evil aren’t committing any sin because they are fighting a righteous war as provided for in the Bible” he told the congregation.
The thanksgiving prayers were attended by Ministers and Members of Parliament from Bukedi sub region, the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, the Parliamentary Army Representative, Gen Elly Tumwiine, Mubende district leaders as well as Senior UPDF officers.
