Museveni passes out 413 UPDF officers after advanced military warfare tactics

MUBENDE - President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), on Thursday passed out 413 army officers who completed an armour military warfare course at the Uganda Military Academy - Kabamba, Mubende District.

‎The 413 graduates, who include 74 Armour platoon commanders, 122 Armour technicians and 217 Armour crews, were all trained in advanced military warfare skills and tactics for six months.

During the ceremony, President Museveni congratulated the graduates for successfully finishing their course, where they acquired the necessary knowledge and operational skills to effectively manage and utilise military tanks.

President Museveni also tasked the officers to ensure comprehensive packaging of defence capabilities in their military operations.

“As I told your commanders, war is an old science and an old art. Science in the form of equipment and art in the way you are organised and utilise the equipment. Science always influences the organisation and the tactics,” he said, according to a release from the Presidential Press Unit (PPU)

General Museveni also cautioned the graduates to understand the existing threats to armour defence technologies and adapt to the necessary counter approaches.

“‎The tank has new threats like the air force, which has been improving and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), so we need to understand the packaging of capacity.”

President Museveni further urged the officers to take extra care of their health so that they can progress in life.

“Love yourself so that you don't die of diseases, alcohol or drugs. You should remain healthy. Additionally, you must also love and take care of your equipment because if you don't look after it well, especially if you are corrupt, when war comes, you will die. When you see a corrupt soldier, he is your enemy and the enemy of the country,” he added.

The Commander in Chief, who assured the officers of continued modernisation of UPDF, commended the leadership of the army on the strides made to professionalise the force.

“We have been busy building barracks and other training facilities. I'm happy that the CDF is still working on welfare, training, and infrastructure," he added.

The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, revealed that the UPDF is fast-tracking the upgrade of all military training facilities to centres of excellence and 14 of them, including the Uganda Military Warfare Academy - Kabamba, have attained that status. 

On discipline, he cautioned armour military trainees to maintain precision and competence and avoid delusive behaviours and lifestyles.

The Commandant Armoured Warfare Training School – Karama, Brig Gen. Peter Chandia, explained that the 413 graduates were skilled in mechanised warfare and in the fundamentals of firepower mobility.

Brig.‎ Gen. Chandia also revealed that the graduates were competent enough to skillfully employ mechanised resources in contemporary battle spaces.

At the same event, the best students were recognised.