News
SFC commander passes out commandos, declares intake six open
The SFC personnel, who included 10 females, completed the Commando Qualification Course Intake 05/25-26 at the Special Warfare Centre and School - Camp Rufu in Ruhengyere, Kiruhura District.
Newly passed out Commandos pose for a group photo with Maj Gen Asaph Mweteise, Maj Gen Paul Muhanguzi and other senior officers. (Courtesy photo)
By: Vision Reporter, Journalist @New Vision
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The Commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), Maj Gen Asaph Nyakikuru Mweteise, has passed out 214 officers who completed specialised commando training.
The SFC personnel, who included 10 females, completed the Commando Qualification Course Intake 05/25-26 at the Special Warfare Centre and School - Camp Rufu in Ruhengyere, Kiruhura District.
Mweteise also declared the beginning of Intake 06 at the Special Warfare Centre and School - Camp Rufu.
Commandos during a demo exercise at the Special Warfare Centre and School in Ruhengere, Kiruhura district. (Courtesy photo)
In his remarks, Mweteise congratulated the graduands for passionately completing the intense training, saying the act marks a significant milestone in the history of building a modern and professional army.
He appreciated the importance of training, noting that "continuous training is an arm that moves an army to make operations simple."
The SFC commander noted that despite the scarce resources, equipping and empowering Special Forces Command soldiers, plus training, requires a lot of resources even if one decides to be frugal, adding that the much-needed continuous training is based on the changing warfare terrain and emerging threats.
To the graduands, Mweteise said the Commando Qualification Course is a strategic, endurance and capability course that is of real value to what they want.
He urged the newly passed-out students to be ready to operate anywhere and demonstrate the specialised combat skills they have attained.
"We have trained warriors to finish the enemies of Uganda within and beyond," he emphasised, further urging them to demonstrate elite specialised combat skills to easily execute high-profile assignments.
He also urged them to lead by example at their respective units and strictly follow the chain of command.
"Strictly respect the chain of command, be dependable and professional. Maintain your tactical edge and observe your unyielding commitment to service," Mweteise told the graduands.
Mweteise also warned that SFC has no room for complacency and urged soldiers to maintain conscious discipline.
"The difficult chapter has come to an end, and something beautiful is about to begin," he concluded.
The Commander of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) 2 Infantry Division, Maj Gen Paul Muhanguzi, congratulated the fresh graduates and noted that with this specialised training, the UPDF is now an advanced force capable of protecting Uganda's interests and people's property.
He commended President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, for the consistent guidance in training and advancement of the armed forces.
"Training is one of the key pillars to advance the forces, and we train to protect our people so that they can work and pay taxes, from where we get funds to equip our forces," Muhanguzi said.
He also urged them to lead by example at their respective units and strictly follow the chain of command.
"Strictly respect the chain of command, be dependable and professional. Maintain your tactical edge and observe your unyielding commitment to service," Mweteise told the graduands.
Mweteise also warned that SFC has no room for complacency and urged soldiers to maintain conscious discipline.
"The difficult chapter has come to an end, and something beautiful is about to begin," he concluded.
The Commander of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) 2 Infantry Division, Maj Gen Paul Muhanguzi, congratulated the fresh graduates and noted that with this specialised training, the UPDF is now an advanced force capable of protecting Uganda's interests and people's property.
Commander SFC Maj Gen Asaph Mweteise giving his remarks during the pass-out ceremony of Commandos at the Special Warfare Centre and School, Ruhengere, in Kiruhura district. (Courtesy photo)
He commended President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, for the consistent guidance in training and advancement of the armed forces.
"Training is one of the key pillars to advance the forces, and we train to protect our people so that they can work and pay taxes, from where we get funds to equip our forces," Muhanguzi said.
He urged soldiers to protect the existing strategic relationship between the force and the civilian population.
"There is no force without wanainchi. We recruit from them, serve with them, and when we retire, we go back to live with wanainchi (civilians)," he explained.
The Group Commander of the Special Forces Group, Col Jimmy Mukuba Kabila, urged graduands to ensure a sense of duty, saying the training intended to mould the young soldiers into Special Forces operators with a sound mindset that can execute complex missions. He urged them to remain hardworking, maintain teamwork, and sacrifice throughout service.
"The army has invested in you, and we expect returns," he said as he congratulated the 214 graduands upon reaching their final stage of the course.
The Commandant of the Special Warfare Centre and School - Camp Rufu, Maj Natal Vuraga Kanzo, expressed gratitude to the UPDF leadership for the unwavering support towards training to have a modern, professional and pro-people army.
He implored graduands to remain strong under physical stress, stay resilient, committed, courageous, observe oneness and fight in a disciplined manner.
Dan Mukago, the Chairperson for Kiruhura District, commended UPDF for preserving peace and security both within Uganda and beyond, noting that the existing peace in his district has led to the emergence of Camp Rufu training school, primary schools and health centres.
"In fact, Camp Rufu is not only a training school, but also a development partner to our district," he noted.
Mukago implored commandos to continue serving Uganda and the rest of the world with loyalty, honour and sacrifice.
The best students were awarded gifts and certificates in recognition of their outstanding performance in various disciplines.
The pass-out was also attended by UPDF Directors of Training, UPDF senior and junior officers, representatives from the Uganda Police Force, instructors at the school, and militants, among other guests.
"There is no force without wanainchi. We recruit from them, serve with them, and when we retire, we go back to live with wanainchi (civilians)," he explained.
The Group Commander of the Special Forces Group, Col Jimmy Mukuba Kabila, urged graduands to ensure a sense of duty, saying the training intended to mould the young soldiers into Special Forces operators with a sound mindset that can execute complex missions. He urged them to remain hardworking, maintain teamwork, and sacrifice throughout service.
"The army has invested in you, and we expect returns," he said as he congratulated the 214 graduands upon reaching their final stage of the course.
The Commandant of the Special Warfare Centre and School - Camp Rufu, Maj Natal Vuraga Kanzo, expressed gratitude to the UPDF leadership for the unwavering support towards training to have a modern, professional and pro-people army.
He implored graduands to remain strong under physical stress, stay resilient, committed, courageous, observe oneness and fight in a disciplined manner.
Dan Mukago, the Chairperson for Kiruhura District, commended UPDF for preserving peace and security both within Uganda and beyond, noting that the existing peace in his district has led to the emergence of Camp Rufu training school, primary schools and health centres.
"In fact, Camp Rufu is not only a training school, but also a development partner to our district," he noted.
Mukago implored commandos to continue serving Uganda and the rest of the world with loyalty, honour and sacrifice.
The best students were awarded gifts and certificates in recognition of their outstanding performance in various disciplines.
The pass-out was also attended by UPDF Directors of Training, UPDF senior and junior officers, representatives from the Uganda Police Force, instructors at the school, and militants, among other guests.