Summary:
URDC Commander Brig. Gen. Earnest Nuwagaba commended the Ministry of Works and Transport for supporting the UPDF’s request to train troops, attributing this success to strong institutional collaboration.
JINJA: A total of 43 Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers have successfully completed a six-week Advanced Heavy Equipment Operators Course, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Transport at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capacity (URDC) in Gaddafi Barracks, Jinja City.
Presiding over the ceremony, Jinja Cantonment Commander Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Kanyesigye, representing the Chief of Joint Staff, emphasized the importance of the training.
“This program enhances the capacity and capability of URDC, reflecting a fully professional UPDF that can respond promptly to disasters both within and beyond Uganda,” Brig. Gen. Kanyesigye stated.
He further highlighted that the acquired skills would contribute significantly to infrastructure development, thereby fostering national progress. He urged the graduates to remain patriotic, embrace sacrifice, and uphold the core values of the UPDF while rejecting corruption to make meaningful contributions to Uganda’s development.
URDC Commander Brig. Gen. Earnest Nuwagaba commended the Ministry of Works and Transport for supporting the UPDF’s request to train troops, attributing this success to strong institutional collaboration.
He noted that the soldiers were trained to operate various heavy machinery, including bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, motor graders, bucket hoes, dump trucks, and compactors. He expressed confidence that this training would enhance the operational capabilities of both URDC and the UPDF at large.
Engineer Wata Ivan, who oversaw the training on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Transport, congratulated the UPDF leadership on achieving this milestone in professionalizing the force.
He advised the graduates to prioritize safety, efficiency, and proper maintenance of the equipment, stressing that the government had invested significant resources in its acquisition.
