The kidnappers held her captive for nearly three weeks, demanding up to $1 million before accepting about $200,000 (approximately UGX 700 million). During her captivity, they cut off two of her fingers and sent them alongside a video of her pleading for help to pressure her family into paying the ransom.
Akena referred to historical statements by President Museveni acknowledging the destruction of food supplies and the destitution of about 2.7 million people during that period. He argued that the loss of cattle deprived communities of daily nutrition, household income, school fees, draft power, and soil fertility, leaving effects that continue to be felt today.
SFC enters this year's competition seeking to build on its strong performance in the inaugural edition, where it won two trophies and emerged the best in the Mastery (Showmanship) Drill category. The Internal Security Organisation (ISO) claimed the overall title.
“This is a place of sacrifice. The NRM is a party of sacrifice,” President Museveni said, warning against leaders who use public office for personal gain.
“I don't want to hear that there is poverty in homesteads that have land and yet money is there at the parish level. If you are a minister and I come to your village and people are still suffering, I will sack you. I want to inform everybody that I have been monitoring and I don't want to embarrass mature people. The money is there on the ground; let's use it to get our people out of poverty,” Museveni said.
“Corruption undermines fairness, justice, and national development. You the youth should mantain self discipline and uphold peace, and play an active role in safeguarding Uganda’s future,” Kiyonga said.
The past serving Army commander and the President for the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), General Mugisha Muntu, has on some occasions asked General Muhoozi to retire from the army if he is to engage in politics.
The course saw participation from 400 trainees, supported by eight instructors from the UPDF 4th Infantry Division and the Patriotic Corp. Gulu College of Health Sciences, a government-funded institution.