UPDF officers graduate from American Defense University

By Vision Reporter

Two senior UPDF officers have graduated from the prestigious US National Defense University (NDU) after attending a one-year War College Course.

The two, Lt. Col, Damulira Sserunjogi and David Gonyi graduated with Masters Degrees in Strategic Security Studies (MASSS) at the University’s main Campus Fort McNair, Washington DC.   The NDU is the highest training and research institution for the US military.

This is the second time ever that the Ugandan officers have graduated from this institution.  

Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, the Army Spokesman confirmed the development and said that for several years, a number of UPDF officers and men have undergone general and specialized training both in Uganda and abroad as the institution strives to professionalize, by placing greater emphasis on training.  

Such training, he said, has greatly improved UPDF’s capacity to deal with national and regional military threats to include Uganda’s contribution to AMISOM and its counter LRA operations in Central Africa.  

“The interventions and initiatives to deal with the threat of global terrorism, and to promote peace and stability in East Africa region and the Horn of Africa have strengthened Uganda’s bilateral military cooperation with the US through which significant military assistance continue to be provided.  One area through which Uganda has benefited are the training opportunities provided to its officers and men in several US training institutions,” he explained.  

The two UPDF officers graduated at a function presided over by Admiral James Alexander Winnefield the Vice Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and   Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt the Senior Vice President of the NDU.

It was attended by Ambassadors and Defense Attaches from several countries, as well as teaching and research staff from the five colleges that make up the National Defense University.

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