“According to World Health Organization, stunting has a lifelong consequence. Children who are stunted are more likely to experience failure to reach their physical potential,” Akena said.

“I call upon members who have challenges in the party and those with different views to attend the retreat to present all their views and challenges. Here we dont fear different views because we have the brains to resolve issues,” Mao said.

"I see people on social media saying that I promised them a transition and asking how it has not happened. Firstly, you don't believe in me. You don't believe in cooperation, yet at the same time you ask, 'Why are you not doing this?’ During the speakership race, you saw that NRM said that I'm not NRM. I think the speakership race answered that big question," Mao noted.

“Museveni has been speaking about democracy, but where is that democracy he speaks of if he can't tolerate those who criticise his government? What is happening in villages undermines the same democracy he talks about,” Ssenyonyi said.

The competition aims to encourage every Ugandan to confidently sing the National Anthem while promoting the use of Kiswahili and increasing appreciation of the East African Community anthem as Uganda advances regional integration.

As part of efforts to ease reintegration, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) set up a registration centre at the institute on Thursday, to enroll returnees who do not possess national identity cards.

Gen Muhoozi noted that the combined graduating class of 11,978 soldiers is the largest military cohort Uganda has produced since the early 1990s, when the UPDF trained South Africa’s Umkhonto we Sizwe (the African National Congress’ armed wing) and the Lesotho Defence Force.