MUBENDE, UGANDA: President Museveni, the Commander in Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces has commissioned a total of 297 professional cadet officers after completing a three year course at the Uganda Military Academy, Kabamba in Mubende District.
Gen. Museveni congratulated the graduating officers and called upon them to focus on economic empowerment as well their families.
“I commissioned 297 Professional Officer Cadets from the Uganda Military Academy Kabamba, which is now affiliated with Makerere University. I congratulate the officers for completing this 3-year course and thank their families for standing with them,” reads a tweet by the President posted on Friday evening.
The President further reiterated that the time is ripe for the government to improve the welfare of the UPDF officers with better salaries.
“We have achieved a lot in building a professional and strong army, my clarion call, therefore, is that we also focus on the economic empowerment of the men in uniform and their families. The time is ripe for the government to pay officers well,” he said.
The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Hon. Bamulangaki Ssempijja, saluted President Museveni for launching a protracted people’s struggle and for training a disciplined UPDF that has won many battles.
He observed that UPDF officers who retired recently retired with a lot of respect from the population.
He further thanked the President for revamping the economy and commitment to nurture a professional force that is capable of protecting the mother land.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Wilson Mbadi, saluted President Museveni for blessing the commissioning ceremony.
He said that the UPDF applauds the President’s wise leadership that has promoted national patriotism and cooperation of the African people.
The CDF reported that the training has achieved the intended purpose.
He called on the students to make use of the old cadres as a reference purpose. He reminded them that they have been trained to be better defendants of peace and security.
He observed that a soldier without ideological training is a potential criminal. Gen. Mbadi revealed that UPDF has identified 60 Swahili language instructors. He reported that the army has started on providing decent accommodation for its soldiers.
The Commandant of the Uganda Military Academy, Kabamba, Brig. Charles Byaruhanga, said that the students acquired the officer’s basic military skills and knowledge.
He saluted President Museveni and the top UPDF leadership for sharing their experiences with the trainees. He also thanked the C-I-C for sparing time to commission the Cadet Officers.
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