U.S. army tips UPDF on human rights

By Henry Nsubuga Mukasa

The US army personnel have trained their Ugandan counterparts on the need to respect human rights and conduct their work following the rule of law.

During a two-day course, the U.S. army civil affairs team from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa trained 66 officers from the Moroto-based UPDF 3rd division about humanitarian law and rules of engagement.

“The purpose was to advocate a respect for human rights and the rule of law by promoting good conduct, so as to build support for our partner nation, Uganda, among its people, and to build capacity among the troops,” Major Jim Wherry, the lead trainer, said.

 Major Wherry observed that many human rights abuses can be prevented simply by ensuring soldiers do their jobs carefully.

“Repeated practice builds confidence in soldiers to overcome carelessness and only use deadly force against credible threats,” he explained, according to a statement issued by the U.S. embassy.

 In the classroom, trainers presented on a variety of subjects, including: the law of war, the law of internal conflict, escalation of force, rules of engagement, gender-based violence, refugee and children’s rights, rights of detainees, protection of civilians, and civil-military cooperation in routine military missions.

The training included such practical exercises as a mock routine operation in cooperative and respectful cordon and search techniques, and reporting law of war violations.

By following a ‘training of trainers’ model, the course sought to enable UPDF trainees to then train their peers.

Many trainees from the UPDF served in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This training allowed them to compare and discuss rule of war application in both AMISOM and Karamoja operations.

According to Cpl. Jason Jordan, training facilitator of the US 490th Civil Affairs Battalion Charlie Company, the interaction gave trainees a better understanding of humanitarian law and how it affects soldiers and military operations.

The course received some very high reviews from both the UPDF officers and the non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

The UPDF Civil Affairs Office requested a copy of the training material so they can incorporate instruction of human rights and civil-military cooperation into their own training regimen, Cpl. Jordan said.