Opposition politicians in the Lango sub region have attacked government for scheduling the national celebrations of Tarehe Sita in Apac, the home town of former President Apollo Milton Obote.
Tarehe Sita is celebrated every February 6th as the sitting NRM government remembers the day in 1981 when the then rebels of the National Resistance Army (NRA) launched their maiden attack against the government of Milton Obote. It was this attack, carried out by 27 armed men led by Yoweri Museveni, that kicked off what would come to be known the Luweero Bush War between 1981 and January 1986. The 27 men attacked Kabamba barracks in Mubende district.
President Museveni is the chief guest at this year's ongoing event at Apac Boma Grounds, something that has rubbed the opposition in the area the wrong way. Some opposition politicians now say it is in bad taste for the NRM government to celebrate the day in Apac, the home of Obote, whose government they ousted.
Obote was overthrown by his army in July 1985, some six months before the NRA rebels captured power from General Tito Okello.
Issah Otoo Hamiza, former Oyam South Member of Parliament and a UPC mobiliser under Jospeh Bosa's faction, says such celebrations brings very bad memories to the people of Lango.
He says this reminds the region of the suffering they went through when the NRA rebels fought and ousted the UPC government.
Otoo says as a UPC member he cannot celebrate but use the day to mourn those who lost their lives during the NRA rebellion.
Jimmy Akena Obote, the Uganda People's Congress Party President, says as a party they cannot in anyway participate in such a celebration. Akena too says the celebrations bring bad memories of when his father was toppled. Akena was 17 when his father's government fell on July 27, 1985.
Felix Okot Ogong, the chairman Lango Parliamentary Group, and a member of the National Resistance Movement says the day reminds him of the many lives and properties that were destroyed in the region.
''I have severally stated that we as Lango can cooperate with NRM in all ways except celebrating Tarehe Sita because that is the day Museveni launched the war against our own Dr Milton Obote,"Okot argued.
Jonathan Odur, Erute South MP describes it as an event meant finally to celebrate total destruction of Lango by the then NRA.
"Imagine all our cattle were stolen in broad day robbery by those whom we have never known to date, and finally celebrating the day in Lango is an equivalent to dancing on the grave of the enemy,'' says Odur.
The theme for this year's celebration is ''The People and their Security Forces: Celebrating a patriotic Partnership that guarantees Security for National Development.''
