By Spy Uganda
As a way of interacting with the Ugandan populace and creating cohesion with Wanainchi, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is undertaking a series of community activities ahead of the 39th UPDF Anniversary, also known as Tarehe Sita.
So on Sunday, the Arua based UPDF Units under the Command of Col. Jackson Kayanja the Brigade Commander 409Bde, has kicked off the celebrations to mark Terehe Sita in Arua by leading the force in cleaning of Arua city and other outreach programs.
The exercise was flagged off at the Mayor’s Gardens and moved to the regional referral hospital which was cleaned inside and later it’s exterior compound and surroundings.
Thereafter, the enthusiastic UPDF personnel accompanied by the locals also proceeded to clean Arua-Nebbi-Kampala Road, the Hospital road and adjoining streets, Arua-Koboko round about trench and drainage channel
However, during the clean up along Hospital Road, the UPDF officers sadly came across a dumped body of a baby amidst the Garbage.
The remains were picked and given a decent burial by UPDF, after which police and the hospital administration were urged to investigate the matter further.
Col. Kayanja, while addressing the gathered public, condemned the act, and advised ladies especially the youth, to avoid unwanted pregnancies, child sex and early pregnancies as he suspected that such vices could be the cause of such an unexplained death.
The enraged senior officer advised that it’s a curse to dump such an innocent life, denying it the opportunity to live.
He revealed that UPDF will continue to do other civil military activities throughout the week including cleaning the main market, the community center, Oli Division Health Center iii and any other areas deemed necessary.
Col. Kayanja later hosted all participants to a dinner at the mayor’s gardens, where he addressed them about the purpose of the exercise as part of renewing the strategic partnership with the civil populace.
He was grateful to the business community led by Mr Jackson Lema, the proprietor and head of Hilltop Hotel Arua, for aiding the Army with some of the tools used during the exercise.
Other stakeholders who participated included area politicians, civil society organisations, civil servants and regional Media organizations.
