Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) has officially commissioned a health centre III at Moruita in Nakapiripirit district, in southern part of Karamoja sub region.
The CDF General Aronda Nyakairima who was the chief guest today opened a health centre III in Moruita in Nakapiripirit district amidst ululations from the locals.
The health centre which he insisted should be called 407 Brigade Health centre III to avoid being grabbed by district authorities is located at the new home of the UPDF 407 Brigade headquarters in Moruita.
The construction of this centre started on the 27th of Jan 2009 by the UPDF Engineers Brigade when Gen Aronda laid the foundation and promised to complete it.
The well furnished centre has a theatre, Laboratory, two wards for male and female, Doctors room, councilor’s room and other apartments.
In his speech, General Aronda promised that the centre will be fully equipped and open to both the army and the public but ran sort of appointing a military Doctor instead handed over the facility to the District health officer Nakapiripirit to over see it until a military Doctor is Identified. He also promised that UPDF will stay in Karamoja until peace, security and development are irreversible.
Speaker after speaker hailed the UPDF for the work the army has done for the local communities in the area pouring prizes to the local commander there Lt Col Moses Kwikiriza as the best commander ever and they demanded that Aronda promotes him in recognition of his good working relationship with wanainch but Aronda later in his speech insisted that with or without promotion Lt col kwikiriza will have to continue serving the people of Karamoja diligently. He added that UPDF is just playing a supplementary role in fulfilling the president’s pledge of improving NAADS and Health.
He reminded the people of Karamoja that the development of Karamoja was the 8th point on the 10 point program of NRA and therefore no body can stop it. That the few remaining stubborn warriors and their acts will soon be history and the people of Amudat and Nakapiripirit being near the Kenyan boarder should begin to trade with neighboring Kenya like it is the case with Gulu and South Sudan after attaining peace.
The Commander of the Engineers Brigade in UPDF announced that Moruita Health centre was the 19th constructed by his Brigade in the whole country and promised to build more.
The Chairperson LC 5 Nakapiripirit Mr John Lorot in his remarks promised to support the health centre and UPDF in its final assault on lawlessness in Karamoja while the District Health officer promised to reduce child and mother mortality using the facility.
Others who attended included the Local government leaders of the districts of Amudat and Nakapiripirit, RDCs, area councilors and the local citizens.
By Captain Deo Akiiki
Capt Deo Akiiki is the UPDF 3rd Division Public Relations Officer.