Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has said Uganda is now stronger militarily so much that nobody can disturb her peace.
“Ugandans should know we have peace and nobody can disrupt it. We defended the peace of Uganda when we were much weaker; there is nobody who can interfere with our peace today,” Museveni said.
The President made the remarks while officiating at the 37th Tarehe Sita celebrations in Butaleja District on Tuesday under the theme “Re-affirming the contribution of armed forces towards regional integration for strategic security, development and prosperity”.
The celebrations were also graced by representatives of other armies of the EAC countries.
Museveni added that Uganda is greatly indebted to Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and FRELIMO leader Samora Machel for their support to our liberation struggle right from the 70s.
This logistical support, training and ideological grounding is what laid a firm foundation for the development of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), he said.
He noted that the Kabamba attack was not the first attempt to liberate Uganda. We had tried in the 1970s with the help of Nyerere and Machel.
“This strong force (UPDF) would not be in place if we did not have their support and Ugandans should never forget the solidarity of the people of Tanzania and Mozambique,” Museveni said, adding that: “I also salute the East African Community for finding it fitting to work together as a regional force to defend and protect the region. This is the only way we can guarantee the region’s strategic security and safety, independence and sovereignty.”
He said that the African continent was colonised because it was not united. “It is therefore important that we work to unite the continent in all aspects. In Rwanda last year, African leaders passed a resolution to create a Continental Free Trade Area and that is the way to go,” he said.
On development, Museveni said people of Butaleja should know that government has plans to tarmarck the road from Tororo, Nagongera to Butaleja as well as the road from Nabumali through Kachonga to Butaleja and Namutumba.
“The public, however, should differentiate between development and wealth. Even if the government develops all infrustructure but the population does not utilise it to make wealth, progress will not happen,” he concluded.