President Museveni Commissions 774 Officer Cadets at Kaweweta Training School

Summary:

• President Museveni also pledged to continue improving the welfare of army officers, including free housing, education for soldiers’ children, and healthcare.

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NAKASEKE: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the Commander-In-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), on Tuesday commissioned 774 officer cadets who successfully completed their one-year training course at the Basic Military Training School in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District.

The newly commissioned officers are part of intake 18 for the year 2023/24, with 28 of them hailing from Tanzania and Mali.

During the ceremony, President Museveni congratulated the cadets on completing their rigorous training. He highlighted the comprehensive nature of the course, which included exposure to various elements of warfare to provide a solid preliminary understanding of combat.

“In our training here, we try to expose all the trainees to the realities of combat. In the past, phases of training were separated, but we decided to introduce officers to the multidimensional nature of warfare early on. This is why you participated in the combined arms exercise at Kalama,” Museveni said.

General Museveni also emphasized that the army should not be seen as a job but as a responsibility to defend the country.

“We started as a student movement in the 1960s. When Idi Amin came to power, we became a resistance movement. Mwalimu Nyerere supported us without us asking for a salary,” he noted.

President Museveni also pledged to continue improving the welfare of army officers, including free housing, education for soldiers’ children, and healthcare.

Hon. Sarah Mateke, the Minister of State for Defence, representing the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth, noted that the training aims to professionalize the UPDF by equipping young commanders with leadership skills, tactics, and discipline. She emphasized that this aligns with President Museveni’s vision of African strategic security, regional security, cooperation, and Pan-Africanism.

“The composition of the Officer Cadet intake from different African countries and the presence of dignitaries from various nations underscore what you have always emphasized; modern security and defense challenges transcend national boundaries and require a unified response,” Hon. Mateke said.

“Joint training promotes understanding and addressing international and cross-border security challenges such as terrorism, natural disasters, and cyber threats.” She stated.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commended the new officers for their hard work and resilience.

“I know how hard you have all worked over the past year and I hope you are proud of your achievements,” he said.

“This moment marks a significant milestone in your military careers. Having attended and survived a commissioning course like this 25 years ago, I think I have an idea of what you have gone through,” he added.

General Muhoozi reminded the officers that leadership is a profound responsibility, not just a position, and cautioned them against corruption, cowardice, and treachery.

Brigadier General Bonny Geoffrey Wolimbwa, the Commandant of the Basic Military Training School in Kaweweta, remarked that the graduation marked the end of a period of intense learning in both class and field for intake 18-2023/24.

He noted that the officers have been equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for their future roles as military leaders.

“The Officer Cadets before us have been sharpened in their minds and their bodies strengthened, both of which are needed for the responsibilities of living in the military.” Brig Gen Bonny stated.

The ceremony was attended by ministers and visiting delegations from Mali and Tanzania, among others.