By Spy Uganda
The President of the Republic of Uganda and Commander in Chief of the UPDF H.E Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday officiated at the graduation of Course Intake 01/2022 at the National Defence College – Uganda (NDC – U) in Njeru, Buikwe district.
The pioneer eighteen (18) course participants successfully completed the National Security and Strategic Course at the NDC-U, which is the highest defence training institution in the country.
Among the officers who graduated include former State House Anti Corruption Unit head Col Edith Nakalema, Brig Gen Godwin Karugaba, Brig Gen Anthony Mbuusi, Brig Gen Bonny Wolimbwa, Brig Gen Chris Ogwal, Brig Gen Daniel Kakono and Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso, Col Chris Bagonza, Col Christopher Ogumelaki and Col Cyril Mawa Muhindo.
In his remarks, President Museveni congratulated graduands and commended them for upholding the spirit of training.
The President elaborated that a lot of chaos in the world is partly caused by dependency, and thus encouraged them to insist on self-sufficiency and developing capabilities. He said,” security of each country should be provided by its own people because they know what hurts them.”
He added that Uganda is peaceful because we emphasize the concept of reducing dependency by starting with the nucleus, which is the development of own human resource.
He noted that what the country has achieved so far is a result of the long journey of consciously building our own capacities, most especially in terms of continuous training and welfare management.
The President encouraged graduands to always train soldiers under their command on top of ensuring that they have what they need and what the country can provide.
The CIC cautioned graduands against corruption, which is usually evidenced in the civilian sector, saying that a soldier who shows a corrupt tendency is an enemy of the army.
He further mentioned that NDC-U is now an apex training center to train senior army officers and others from MDAs that make the army strong.
President Museveni encouraged prioritization during planning and promised to continue supporting the college so that it grows into a university.
He also urged local residents to surrender some land to enable the growth of the college, promising compensation for the said. “Grass cannot be near fire,” he said.
He also promised to continue working with the DR Congo army, FARDC, to defeat ADF terrorists. “We want peace in East Africa to do business, not booms or coexistence with terrorists,” he emphasized.
The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs Hon Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja commended President Museveni for the unwavering zeal to provide a peaceful and secure environment for social economic transformation. “You have made many things happen and I pray that you continue,” Hon Ssempijja told the President.
He called for the maintenance of peace and security and urged graduands to help transform communities.
The Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbadi noted that training has a purpose and should be used to build a UPDF with a Pan African mindset so as to exhibit a professional, efficient and accountable force.
He observed that the acquired training at NDC-U reduced the cost of training, revived our own history, developed our own human resources and enhanced defence diplomacy especially within the region. “We are our own fishermen now,” Gen Mbadi said, adding that security and development are indispensable.
The Commandant NDC-U Maj Gen Francis Okello congratulated graduands and urged them to measure up to the task assigned by the CIC.
He said that all the topics covered like national and regional security, policy formulation, implementation management and research were all anchored on an African setting.
Course One of the academic year 2022/23 drew participants from UPDF services, specialized units and formations; that include Land Force, Air Force and Special Forces Command.
