Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces has urged the newly passed-out troops to embrace intensive training in order to enhance operation efficiency and effectiveness so as to pacify Karamoja and foster socio-economic transformation in the sub-region.
The remarks were delivered by Maj. Gen. Don William Nabasa, the UPDF 3 division commander, while officiating at the pass-out of 336 troops who completed a three and a half-month refresher course in combat readiness and effectiveness for the intake of 02/2023 at Kolinyang in Napak District.
According to Maj. Nabasa, being the vanguard of creating security and peace, the forces must perform their constitutional obligation for total normalcy to return to enable the people to adapt to other economic ventures rather than inter-community cattle rustling.
“You must embrace hard training in order for us to be combat-ready. Maintaining operation efficiency and effectiveness is key to the pacification of Karamoja sub-region, which creates conducive conditions for socio-economic transformation,” Maj. Gen. Nabasa said.
He further explained that in addition to a force approach to degrade hard-core criminals, the joint security forces embraced and embarked on voluntary means and campaigns focused on positive mindset change and security-community mobilisation strategies to recover more arms.
Col. James Barigye Rukundo, 3 Division Operation and Training Officer, said that the training scope was rich in skills, making troops more oriented and acclimatised to the disarmament operational environment.
The Division Training Officer, Major Richard Ariko, thanked the security leadership of the division for the continued support and guidance rendered to the instructional team and facility that made the training a success.
Present at the pass-out ceremony were ACP Francis Chemusto, Mt. Moroto Regional Police Commander, Brigade and Battalion Commanders, and senior officers of UPDF, UPF, and ASTU, among others.
