Story by Osuta Yusuf
On June 4, 2024, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), commissioned 774 officer cadets who completed a rigorous one-year training course at the Basic Military Training School in Kaweweta. The cadets, part of intake 18 for 2023/24, included 28 individuals from Tanzania and Mali.
During the ceremony, President Museveni congratulated the cadets, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their training. “In our training here, we try to expose all the trainees to the realities of combat,” Museveni explained. “At an early stage, the officer should be exposed to the multidimensional nature of warfare.”
He urged the new officers to view their roles as responsibilities rather than mere jobs. “We started as a student movement in the 1960s. During Idi Amin’s regime, we became a resistance movement supported by Mwalimu Nyerere, and it was easy because we didn’t ask for a salary,” Museveni noted. He also pledged to enhance the welfare of army officers with initiatives such as free housing, education for soldiers’ children, and healthcare.
Hon. Sarah Mateke, representing the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, highlighted the training’s role in professionalizing the UPDF. “The training resonates with President Museveni’s guidance on African strategic security, regional security, and Pan-Africanism,” Mateke said. She stressed the importance of international cooperation in addressing modern security challenges like terrorism, natural disasters, and cyber threats.
Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces, praised the new officers. “This moment marks a significant milestone in your military careers. Leadership is not merely a position but a profound responsibility,” he stated, cautioning against corruption, cowardice, and treachery.
Brig. Gen. Bonny Geoffrey Wolimbwa, Commandant of the Basic Military Training School, noted the cadets’ intensive learning experience. “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,” he said.
The ceremony, attended by ministers and delegations from Mali and Tanzania, underscored the importance of joint training in promoting international security and cooperation.
