By Ronald Nahabwe
Masaka: Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Armoured Brigade (A/Bde) have Saturday concluded a two-day basic and combat fitness tests conducted within Masaka town.
The participants went through a 3Km run, push-ups and sit-ups as part of a basic fitness test. The combat-fitness test entailed a 20Km route-march while carrying and wearing all basics of an infantry soldier in the field.
The Commander of A/Bde, Brig. Gen. Joseph Ssemwanga revealed that the exercise was a follow-up of that which the Commander Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu launched on October 2, 2019, in which participants were senior commanders and directors under UPDF Land Forces.
“This is part of the wider national exercise meant to not only improve soldiers’ fitness and health but also assess their combat readiness,” said Brig. Ssemwanga.
The exercise coordinator who is also the Brigade’s Operations and Training Officer, Col. Kantinti, said all the participants satisfactorily passed the tests and exhibited high morale, which is typical of the UPDF.
In September 2015, the UPDF adopted a number of measures to improve the health and fitness of its officers and militants. Fitness tests and having running files for routine medical examination are some of the measures meant to keep the troops mentally, physically and medically fit to execute their military roles.
But as Militants were doing military drills around the Masaka town, the residents were left mesmerized by the skills and tactics that UPDF soldiers displayed during the road work.
