The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) participated in activities to mark the 43rd Tarehe Sita anniversary.

The celebrations were held on Tuesday (February 6) under the theme: Celebrating the people's struggle for Unity, Security and Peace for social economic transformation.

In a statement, ATMIS said their Force Commander Lt Gen Sam Okiding joined the troops together with the Somali community in cleaning the Marine Market. Other civil-military activities conducted included free medical care and the provision of assorted food items.

Members of the Somalia community receiving free medical care from the UPDF. (Courtesy photo)

Okiding thanked the people of Somalia for participating in the cleaning exercise and coming in big numbers to receive free medical services.

“As ATMIS forces, we thank the people of Somalia for the important role you are playing in partnering with us in degrading Al-Shabaab terrorists. This partnership has yielded good results—relative peace and security in the larger parts of Somalia. We urge you to keep the spirit so that Somalia achieves total peace,” he said.

The Deputy Sector One Commander, Col Graphins Kantinti, who represented Sector One Commander, Brig. Gen. Anthony Lukwago Mbuusi, congratulated the UPDF soldiers upon making 43 years of existence. He elaborated on the origin of the National Resistance Army/UPDF in 1981 as a pro-people’s struggle to become the present-day mighty UPDF.

“UPDF is a disciplined pro-people’s army founded on the ideological concept of patriotism, nationalism and Pan-Africanism. You must maintain that to remain the mighty UPDF,” Kantinti stated.

Members of the Somalia community receiving free medical care from the UPDF. (Courtesy photo)

In Barawe district, which is 240km southwest of Mogadishu city, the troops led by Col Christopher Berochan, the Uganda Battle Group 38 commander, cleaned Barawe General Hospital, supplied an assortment of food items to the patients and gave out 5000 face masks.

In general, 653 Somali patients received free medical services from the medical camps established in sector one forward operating bases, according to the statement.

According to Capt Dr James Ojok, the commander of the level two hospital, noted that for the last two days of free medical services, cases worked on were related to common illnesses such as; skin infections, eye defects, dental care and complications which needed surgery were referred to Government hospital.