US gives training auditorium to Uganda army

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The US government has boosted Uganda's peace-keeping and humanitarian operations with the handing over of a state-of-the-art auditorium it says is worth $3.7 million (about shillings 13.2 billion). The development is a boost to the country’s military training and education infrastructure.

Located at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre (IPSOTC), the newly completed facility has a capacity of over 1,500 trainees and is equipped with advanced audiovisual and IT infrastructure.

The facility was opened by Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Lt. Gen. Sam Bakasumba to honour the longstanding partnership to strengthen and address security challenges in the region. The US and the UPDF have partnered since 2007 in peacekeeping.

The facility was opened by Lt. Gen. Sam Bakasumba to honour the long standing partnership to strengthen and address security challenges in the region. (Courtesy photo)

"This support reinforces the U.S. commitment to building regional peacekeeping capabilities and enhancing regional stability, which benefits Uganda, the United States, and the world. With ongoing partnerships like these, the U.S. continues to support Uganda’s efforts to ensure a more secure future for the region," a July 2, 2025, US Mission in Uganda statement reads.

The facility includes additional storage areas, office space and conference rooms to support activities such as workshops, conferences and large UPDF meetings—resources considered critical for Uganda’s rapid response to peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.

The auditorium, according to the US Mission, is part of a broader US commitment to strengthening Uganda’s and Africa’s peacekeeping capabilities. It follows the handover of two other major facilities: A United Nations level 2 mobile hospital, valued at shillings 19.7 billion ($5.5 million), in October 2024, and a vehicle maintenance facility, worth 5.3 billion ($1.5 million), in December 2024.

The vehicle maintenance facility, handed over last December, was designed to enhance the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre (URDC). It features maintenance bays, a fuelling station, a vehicle inspection pit, administrative offices, and a security perimeter—facilities aimed at improving the UPDF’s logistical response during regional emergencies.

The Level 2 Mobile Hospital, delivered last October, is tailored for rapid deployment to provide critical medical care during peacekeeping and emergency missions, while also supporting the general health needs of Ugandan citizens.

These investments form part of two longstanding U.S. defence cooperation frameworks: the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APRRP) and the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI). Through these initiatives, the U.S. has significantly enhanced the readiness of African countries, including Uganda, to respond to crises through peacekeeping missions, both within the UN system and through regional bodies.

Currently, nearly two-thirds of all U.S. security cooperation funding in Uganda supports health programmes with direct benefits for Ugandan citizens. The remainder goes to strengthening human rights, providing legal training, and supporting humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts.