Museveni at Uganda Military Academy Kabamba, commissions 295 officer cadets, some from Rwanda 🇷🇼

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is also the Commander In Chief of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF)continues to encourage members of the army to emphasize patriotism, keep themselves healthy and continuous learning to seek for knowledge while executing their duties.
According to Gen. Museveni, officers should take the opportunity to not only go for more courses but to read more, adding that during the days of the National Resistance Army (NRA), they developed knowledge through constant reading.
“I hear that you spend a lot of time on social media. Are you chatting with people who are knowledgeable or you’re exchanging ignorance? If you take those three things seriously, you’ll be very far,” H.E Museveni said.
The President was today speaking at Uganda Military Academy Kabamba in Mubende district at the commissioning of a total of 295 officer cadets, intake 06 of 2023 short and three-year cadet course intake 02/2022-2023 from the UPDF Land and Air forces respectively.
“I congratulate you on finishing the course and I wish you prosperous careers where you’re heading,” the President said.
“Otherwise, the force is now becoming more and more comprehensive in terms of capacity to deal with all types of threats. And once we launch our satellite, it will reinforce what we already have, because what the satellite does, it gives you eyes from up. We have some eyes there but we can have more with the satellite,” H.E Museveni added.
The Commander in Chief further said the young people are lucky to join the force which is advanced in development unlike the pioneers (abatembuzi) who did not have the facilities like now.
“The land forces, infantry, artillery, armoured, air-force are all developed now. Therefore, now that you’re in this type of force, your future is bright. I’m very happy and congratulate everybody,” H.E Museveni told officer cadets while reassuring them that even the issue of pay is now being addressed.
“Therefore, working for the country in the armed forces should become easier for members of the UPDF,” President Museveni assured the gathering.
His Excellency, the President also congratulated the parents for letting their children to join the prestigious institution of the UPDF but cautioned them not to bother their children in the forces by asking them for money.
“All the parents, we demand that you wake up so that you don’t become a burden to these young officers. When they graduate you start bothering them to send you money instead of you helping them. Why? Because the parents are not using resources to get out of poverty. Uganda has good weather so it’s not Godly to be poor,” Gen. Museveni emphasized.
The Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi said four of the students graduated from the Academies abroad in Kenya, Jamaica, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Gen. Mbadi applauded President Museveni for his strategic and visionary leadership that has led to the UPDF grow into a professional, effective, efficient and accountable force that is anchored on strong civil military relationship, Nationalism, Patriotism, Pan Africanism and ideological awareness to achieve its missions as enshrined in article 209 of the constitution of the republic of Uganda in order to create an environment that is conducive to achieving social economic transformation.
He further informed the President that they’re working to ensure Uganda Military Academy achieves a centre of excellence status for cadet training not only for Uganda but also for regional partner states.
“One of the requirements particularly for Uganda Military Academy was to introduce a three-year cadet graduate course in line with the East African Community partner states academies as required by the East African community defence and cooperation protocols,” Gen. Mbadi said.
He called upon newly commissioned officer cadets to be aware of the security challenges faced by the countries in the region ranging from cyber threats, terrorism, transnational threats, insurgency among others.
“Therefore, you must be ready to effectively be part of the solution to these challenges”
According to the Commandant of Uganda Military Academy Kabamba, Col. Wycliff Keita, of the 295 officer cadets with 32 lady cadets, a total of 236 cadets are drawn from UPDF specialized departments of medical, ICT, Engineering, Airforce, Education, Finance, Legal services and procurement among others who represent the quality of the young generation of citizens that are taking a patriotic choice to serve their country under the UPDF.
The professional cohort consists of 4 postgraduates, 129 graduates and 103 diploma holders some from Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania.
“They have been trained in military knowledge and skills but also exposed to political economy and the symbiosis of our responsibility in the wider social, economic, informational and diplomatic spheres of state power,” Col. Keita said.