UPDF wins 2026 Inter-Forces games hosted in Gulu City
“Many lessons were learnt that would cause various improvements in the next coming editions of the Inter-forces games. The organisers announced that it was turn for the Uganda Police Force to host the 19th Edition of the 2028 Inter-forces games. We thank the members of the technical committee, all managers of all four forces and the participants who took part in the various games”, said Maj. Gen. Karemire.
Waswa Mukwya of UPDF strikes police in Inter-Forces final.
GULU - Uganda's State Minister for Defence, Akifeza Grace Ngabirano, on Friday, September 4, applauded the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) sports teams for emerging as the 2026 national champions of the 18th edition of the Inter-Forces games.
The one-week activities were held at St. Joseph’s College Layibi in Gulu City.
At this school, St. Joseph’s College Layibi, here in Gulu, “I just watched a very competitive football game between the UPDF team and the Uganda Police Forces, which ended in a one-all draw; but I'm told the Police emerged the winners on the competition rules with more points collected than the UPDF. Congratulations to the Uganda police team. I therefore thank the UPDF team for emerging as the best overall team in the championship,” said Akifeza.
The minister hailed all the teams from all four forces, UPDF, Uganda Police, Uganda Prison Services and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), for displaying very good discipline and following the various Rules and Regulations and the laws governing the competitions that made a successful ending of the championship.
“The Inter-forces games go beyond the games or the competitions. It is a result of the good leadership of the President of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Museveni Kaguta, who has provided so far peace and harmony, unity and development to the government.
We also thank the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. David Muhoozi Keinerugaba, for having allowed all the forces to come together, play together in sports as signs of unity, peace and harmony, and love for the Country. We pray it continues even for many years to come”, said Minister Akifeza.
Defence state minister Grace Akifeza Ngabirano kicks the ball to open the final game.
The UPDF Joint Education and Culture commander, Maj. Gen. Richard Karemire, who is also the chairman of the Inter-forces games' national committee, hailed the defence ministry for the support rendered through the office of the CDF to the national organising committee that enabled the successful running of the 18th edition games in Gulu City.
This comes after Uganda is set to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
The Deputy Commander of the UPDF Land Forces, Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori, who represented the CDF, Gen. David Muhoozi Keinerugabda, said the Inter-forces contribute towards strengthening regional and national security and building trust, teamwork and professional relationships among the forces and the civil population Countrywide.
“The games allow us to interact beyond our normal duties by making us get to know one another, creating and building networks and appreciating them, especially for the government institutions to serve the people as one government and one people.
I am particularly pleased that these games have been organised to unite the people of Uganda. This region (Acoli) has been lagging and torn apart, with peace disrupted due to over 20 decades of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war or conflict in particular.
Organising these games in Gulu City, northern Uganda) reminds us of how far we have come. We have not gathered here (Gulu City) for war. We are here to celebrate peace, unity, friendship and to thank God and the people of Northern Uganda for bringing peace and embracing development that is slowly coming, because peace is a must for all these to be done, asante sana ”, said Maj. Busizoori.