The Arua based UPDF Units under the Command of Col Jackson Kayanja the Brigade Commander 409Bde, kicked off the celebrations to mark Terehe Sita in Arua by leading the force in cleaning of Arua city and other outreach programs.

The exercise was flagged off at the Mayor’s Gardens and moved to the regional referral hospital which was cleaned inside and later its exterior compound and surroundings.

Thereafter, the enthusiastic UPDF personnel accompanied by the locals also proceeded to clean;
Arua-Nebbi-Kampala road , the Hospital road
and adjoining streets, Arua-Koboko round about trench and drainage channel.

During the clean up along hospital Rd, the UPDF officers sadly came across a dumped dead body of a baby amongst the Garbage. The remains were picked and given a decent burial by UPDF as police and the hospital administration was called in to investigate the matter further.

Col Kayanja while addressing the gathered public condemned the act and advised ladies especially the youth to avoid unwanted pregnancies, child sex and early pregnancies as he suspected that such vices could be the cause of such a death. The enraged senior officer advised that it’s a curse to dump such an innocent life denying it the opportunity to live.

UPDF will continue to do other civil military activities throughout the week including cleaning the main market, the community centre, Oli Division Health Centre 3 and any other areas deemed necessary.

Col Kayanja later hosted all participants at the mayor’s gardens where he addressed them on the purpose of the exercise as part of renewing the strategic partnership with the civil populace.

He was grateful to the business community led by Mr Jackson Lema the proprietor and head of Hilltop hotel Arua, for aiding the Army with some of the tools used.

Other stake holders who participated included area politicians, civil society organisations, civil servants and regional Media organizations