The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has officially flagged off the 2017 Defence Forces week activities in Lango Sub-Region.
The function which was presided over by Minister of State in charge of Northern Uganda Hon. Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, took place at Apac Primary School in Apach Municipality.
The ceremony marks the beginning of eight days long civil-military activities in Lango sub-region, in the Districts of Apac, Amulatar, Kole, Oyam, Dokolo, Lira, Alebtong and Otuke.
Some of the activities include free general Medicare, including safe male circumcision in selected health centers and Engineering works like renovation of hospitals, church and schools facilities among others.
The Chief Guest, Hon Grace Kwiyucwiny, applauded the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the UPDF for dedicated service to the people of Uganda in the field of security and for selecting Lango sub-region to conduct this year’s Tarehe Sita activities.
She further commended the UPDF for discipline exhibited to the local people. The Minister urged the locals to turn up in large numbers to share and interact with their national pro-people force throughout the Defence Forces week.
The Defence Forces Week activities were officially flagged off with construction works of three classroom blocks at Apac School, done by the UPDF Engineers.
(L-R) Jilian Akullu RDC Oyam, Capt Tapi and Agnes Akello Ebong RDC Kole District join local entertainers during Tarehe Sita activity launch in Lango region.
UPDF representative in parliament, Hon Lt Gen Ivan Koreta heads the military team in Lango during the 2017 Defence Forces Week activities under the theme: “The People and their Security Forces: Celebrating a Patriotic Partnership that Guarantees Security for National Development.”
Lt Gen Ivan Koreta, said the celebration is symbolic, aimed at further enhancing the strategic relationships between the people and their army, UPDF. “We shall conduct several activities to support and interact with the people that have helped build this army to the current professional standards it has attained,” He said.
The function was attended by the Apac District Woman Member of Parliament (MP), Hon Betty Engola who congratulated the UPDF leadership for the current level of cooperation between the people and the Army.
She also thanked them for restoring peace in Lango, which has opened way for social economic transformation, improving the livelihood of the people in Lango and Ugandans at large.
She said UPDF participation in operation wealth creation in Lango region is yielding positive results as opposed to earlier agricultural interventions in the region.
The MP further thanked the army for the civil military activities they are conducting in Lango. She singled out the significance of the construction works at Apac Primary School that was used for the launch saying it will promote education in the area.
“I know after completion, that place, that school, that block will not remain the same,” she said.
Others who attended the function included Apac Resident District Commissioner – Beatrice Akello Akori, LC 5 Apac – Bob Okae, Mayor – Okello Jimmy, MP for Kole North – Hon Okello Bonny and Members of the security forces among others.