H.E Gen. (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the commander in chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), while passing out the Reserve Forces (LDU) at Kaweweta Recruit Training School, urged parents to educate their children for a better tomorrow.
“When you hear that the soldiers are doing well, it is mainly because they are educated people. Educated people can make very good soldiers because modern warfare has a lot of science, and educated people learn very easily,” he said.
President Museveni also urged the UPDF leadership to promote infrastructure development in training institutions so that they may become centres of excellence, allowing troops to train in the finest conditions.
While speaking at the pass out, the Chief of Defence Forces, General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, stated that the recruiting process for the recruits who graduated was in accordance with the UPDF.
“A journey of building a modern, professional, effective, and efficient force capable of securing Uganda and will continuously bridge the gap so as to deliver on the constitutional mandate.”
Gen. Mbadi, however, said that with guidance from the president, the UPDF will continue to review soldiers’ capacities for continuous improvement.
He called upon the recruits to always remember the core values of the UPDF, the key being conscious discipline and keeping in mind the UPDF code of conduct.
“UPDF’s discipline is built on this code of conduct to ensure a positive relationship with our strategic partners (wanainchi) by avoiding tendencies that are injurious to the good image of the UPDF,” said Gen. Mbadi.
The commandant of Kaweweta recruit training school, Brigadier General Bonny Wolimbwa, said that the over 96000 recruits have been able to train and get equipped so that they are able to serve in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces.
He said that through demonstrations, the recruits have proved that they have acquired adequate skills that will enable them to perform in their respective units and urged them to be good ambassadors and work as a team.
Among the recruits were rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, tasked with the protection of Uganda’s Flora and Fauna.