Major General Leopold Kyanda, the Joint Chief of Staff (JCOS) of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), urged protocol officers to maintain the UPDF ethos while interacting with foreign visitors.
He delivered these remarks during his speech at the inaugural UPDF Protocol Officers Staff Course, held at the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya on September 19, 2023.
“I implore you to take advantage of this course and require you to uphold the UPDF ethos, especially as you deal with foreign visitors,” Kyanda said.
He also mentioned that the involvement of the UPDF, both domestically and internationally, necessitates the presence of competent protocol personnel to oversee.
Kyanda urged protocol officers to apply the skills they learned during their two-week training in order to improve their work.
“Remember, you are the face of UPDF. Your turnout is very important, and therefore, this course will help to equip you with skills on how to handle events,” Kyanda added.
Colonel Naboth Mwesigwa, the Director of Protocol, expressed gratitude to the JCOS for their unwavering dedication to organising training sessions for protocol officers. He emphasised that this initiative will significantly enhance their performance and meet the leadership’s high expectations.
