“Maintain discipline and upgrade”, Brig Gen Besigye tells Karama Combat Engineer graduates

17th May 2024
The Joint Staff Chief Engineering, Brig Gen Cyrus Besigye Bekunda, has today implored combat engineers and explosive experts to maintain discipline and keep upgrading to reach the zenith of their army careers.
“Discipline and Willingness to Upgrade will give you a good life in the Army,” said Brig Besigye Bekunda while passing out 255 students from Combat Engineering Level 111 and Explosive Ordinance Devices/ Improvised Explosive Devises (EOD/IED) Level 11, with 204 and 51 students, respectively, at the School of Combat Engineers, Karama, in Mubende District.
Speaking at the pass-out ceremony the chief guest, Brig Gen Cyrus Besigye Bekunda, expressed happiness to officiate at the important graduation ceremony when the school that started with one building block is now a brigade.
He remarked that the school has different training levels, levels I, II, and III, and asked the students who finish any of the levels to be ready and willing to join the next level and ensure they continue to upgrade for better chances of promotion.
“We expect you to perform much better in the field than the way you have demonstrated to us here,” he added.
He enjoined the graduates to maintain the discipline they exhibited during the training, wherever they are deployed to live longer.
“Avoid abuse of alcohol and its related evils if you want to have a healthy life of service in the army,” Brig Gen Bekunda advised.
He also pointed out that the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs promised to secure motor vehicle bridge equipment and is willing to prioritise its budget.
He thanked the Ministry of Defence / UPDF strategic leadership for supporting the school, which has grown from a one-block building to a booming school.
He was grateful to the instructors for conducting the courses and the students for bearing the intensive training, and then passed out the graduates.
In his remarks, the commandant of the School of Combat Engineers, Col. Wilson Kabeera, expressed gratitude to the Army leadership for supporting the school and its training programmes.
“The journey to this point has been made possible by the tireless efforts, support and vision of the Army leadership,” Col Kabeera stated.
“The UPDF capabilities, troops’ readiness and discipline are enshrined in the training values and our capacity to adapt and counter enemy threats. This is reflected in our vision as a school, “To train and produce Officers and Men who will provide solutions to commanders’ decisions,” the commandant emphasized.
He explained that the graduates of the Combat Engineers course had been taken through comprehensive training in core aspects of combat engineering that included organisation, rigging, demolition, water supply, mine warfare, booby traps, roads and rafts, among others.
The EOD/IED course content included explosive theory, EOD task management, modern mines, use of explosives, skill at arms, political education, drill, financial resilience and military law, among others.
Col Kareeba expressed optimism now that several of their sister units, such as Special Force Command, have acquired the knowledge the combat school offers.
“In the spirit of professionalism and modernisation of our forces, we see an opportunity to produce wholesome soldiers who can accomplish any task in any given scenario. Knowledge in water purification, EOD, urban military breaching and basic NBC defence should be integrated into every soldier’s basic training,” he advised.
He cautioned the graduates to continue being disciplined soldiers everywhere they go and to attend to their assignments with a positive mindset to avoid reckless living and achieve more in life.
In attendance were Brig Peter Ongiya Candia, Commandant of the Mechanized Brigade; Col RC Wakayinja Acting commander of the 14 Combat Engineering Brigade; among other senior UPDF officers.

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I congratulate the officers and wish them the best in their services

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Congratulations men and women in uniform

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Amiina