At the 15th Tarehe Sita Thanksgiving breakfast held at the UPDF Headquarters, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni delivered a message underscoring that prayer alone is not enough for success—physical labor and discipline are equally essential.
Accompanied by First Lady Janet Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief marked the 45th anniversary of the struggle’s birth at Kabamba with calls for diligence, trust in God, and passing lessons of the past to future generations.
Rejecting passive faith, Museveni reflected on his journey from a student aided by a timely cattle sale to the setbacks of the 1981 Kabamba attack, framing these experiences as part of a divine plan. “Success comes through hard work and trust in God, not just prayer,” he stated.
With an eye on the “Bazzukulu” (grandchildren), Museveni stressed the importance of teaching younger generations about the nation’s history.
He announced that land has been secured for a Museum of the Resistance, aimed at preserving the lessons of Uganda’s guerrilla war for posterity.
The event, themed around Joshua 1:8, featured reflections from both military and religious leaders. Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in a message read by Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, credited God for transforming the UPDF from a small liberation group into a professional force.
Defence Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth described the breakfast as a moment to “reflect, recollect, and renew” commitment to national goals.
Retired Archbishop Luke Orombi likened Uganda’s 40-year journey to the biblical transition from Moses to Joshua, praising the army as a “people’s force” that extends peace to neighboring countries.
The First Lady concluded with a prayer of gratitude for 45 years of divine guidance, from the 1981 Kabamba attack to the UPDF’s current role in regional stability.
As Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Rosette Byengoma noted, the gathering was less a ceremony and more a “deeply spiritual” recommitment to the nation’s founding principles.
