KAMPALA – Vice President Edward Kiwanuka has applauded the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for demystifying the myths harboured by the people in rural settings that their presence in the community signifies presence of wrong elements whom they have come to arrest.
The Vice President was on Sunday speaking ahead of the match between the UPDF Armoured Brigade, Kasijagirwa and a combined Uganda Police Force team selected from the 9 districts of Greater Masaka region, that was a curtain raiser for other matches and a health camp manned by medical staff from the Armoured Brigade at Lwemodde ground, Kyesiiga sub-county in Masaka district.
The football tournament codenamed Armoured Brigade Commander’s Cup was created by General David Muhoozi, the Commander of the Defence Forces, who at that time was the commander of the Armoured Brigade in 2009.
The Vice President hailed the current administration of the Armoured Brigade for continuing with the vision of the CDF, whose goal was to mitigate crime rate in the region, offer guidance to the youth, and helping to treat the people of their various ailments.
Ssekandi said that pooling resources and bringing them back to the society by the UPDF is a huge sacrifice but which attracts immense results like making them more friendlier in the communities and helps to close the potential crimes in the area.
The Vice President said any medical treatment extended to the rural areas always attracts huge numbers within the community which is a reflection that the people need contact vital interventions to better their health and productivity.
On the relevance of sports, he hastened that it keeps the body fit and creates avenues for the competitors to expose their talents for alternative sources of incomes.
The Speaker of Kyesiiga Sub-county, Mudasiru thanked the Vice President for his input to lobby for Health Centre II at Kitunga, Health Centre III at Kamulegu, Emirates hospital at Lwemodde that has a fully equipped ambulance and whose initiatives have entrenched support for the NRM in the area.
Major E. W. Mutamba on behalf of the Armoured Brigade Commander, said that the cup which 18 teams is given sports gear from uniforms, footballs and trophies. He said another key area that the Brigade is focussing on is sensitization against HIV/AIDS that is now on the rise in the region.
Captain Umar Musisi who delivered the message from CDF, conveyed apology of his boss’s absence but who pledged to partner with the Vice President to guide the youth in the region against manipulation from egocentric politicians.
The joint Police team that was captained by Lwengo DPC beat UPDF by 5:4 on Penalties.
