The RDF participated in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF)’s Heroes Day Celebrations in Mbarara, Uganda on Saturday, June 9.According to a statement, the RDF was represented by a delegation led by Maj. Gen. Jerome Ngendahimana, the Deputy Reserve Force Chief of Staff, accompanied by Maj. Gen. Alex Kagame, the Second Division Commander.The delegation also included over 35 officers and men, with a 24-man strong team of APR players.The UPDF Heroes Day Celebrations were marked by awarding of Medals to Tanzanian Generals who participated in the 1971 attack on Idi Amin Forces.Three Brigadier Generals were awarded medals while another was awarded posthumously by President Yoweri Museveni.The ceremony, which took place 18 kms from Mbarara, a scene of one of the battlefields in 1971 attack, was attended by Military Delegations from Rwanda and Tanzania.The cerebrations were climaxed with a football match between the military teams of the two countries, APR and Simba FC.The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of UPDF, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, thanked the two teams, especially the visiting team for gracing the occasion. He highlighted that this is possible due to the friendly relations between the two peoples and leadership. A return match is expected in Kigali in future.The RDF Spokesperson reiterated that “The RDF contingent which spent three days in Uganda to participate in UPDF Heroes Day cerebrations is a sign of excellent relations existing between the two countries militaries.The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence and Security by their respective Ministers of Defence in October 2011 in Musanze. The two Chiefs of Defence have since exchanged visits and a series of activities have been done in implementation of the MOU to cement the excellent relations”.
