____________

WAKISO - The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Marines Brigade has passed out 82 trainees, urging them to stay focused.

The trainees, who passed out Thursday (April 18, 2024) underwent a four-month Maritime Basic Induction Course at Kalangalo Marine Training School, Wakiso District.

The Commander of the Marines Brigade, Brig. Gen. Michael Nyarwa, commended the trainees for their positive attitude, relentlessness, hard work, and unwavering focus, which he credited for enabling them to complete the course.

Nyarwa advised them to avoid succumbing to temptations that could hinder their successful career paths. 

“Your actions reflect not only on yourselves but also on our esteemed institution of the UPDF you represent,” remarked Gen. Nyarwa.

He observed that the safety of the trainees had been the training school’s priority, and each trainee had been equipped with survival and rescue skills, inclusive of all the course units relevant to the Marine Brigade’s tasks and missions.|

The trainees, who passed out Thursday (April 18, 2024) underwent a four-month Maritime Basic Induction Course at Kalangalo Marine Training School, Wakiso District. (UPDF Photo)

The Commandant of the Marine Training School, Lt Col David Kararira, advised the trainees to maintain the skills and knowledge acquired during their training throughout their service, assuring  them of more opportunities awaiting them, “but only for those who are courageous, disciplined, committed, focused, and ambitious.”

The course, which was composed of 13 female and 69 male trainees, aimed to equip them with combat survival and rescue skills, an essential aspect of maritime safety.

Present at the passing-out parade were religious and area leaders, officers, and men of the Marines Brigade.

About Marines

According to UPDF, the Marine Forces have capacity to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda on water. 

They are able to patrol Uganda’s territorial waters in order to detect any illegal activity, either in support of operations to detect illegal activity or in support of operations of civil authority.

Uganda is at the centre of Africa’s Great Lakes. Water bodies cover about 20% of Uganda’s territory. Twenty-six percent (26%) of Uganda is Water-linked. 

Uganda’s water bodies link her to both opportunities and vulnerabilities at security, socio-economic, and diplomatic levels.

Lakes Mwitanzige (Albert) and Rwitanzigye (Edward) link Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lake Nalubaale (Victoria) links Uganda with Kenya and Tanzania to the East and West respectively. 

River Nile, which flows all the way to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, links Uganda with South Sudan. The internal water bodies include Lakes Kyoga, Mahyoro (George), Bunyonyi, Mburo, and Wamala.