UPDF SETS UP STAFF COLLEGE

Feb 06, 2003

THE UPDF yesterday outlined major plans to construct training colleges, an army officers’ mess and convert the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) headquarters on Kitante road, Kampala into a command college.

By Grace Matsiko
THE UPDF yesterday outlined major plans to construct training colleges, an army officers’ mess and convert the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) headquarters on Kitante road, Kampala into a command college.
In plans announced by the Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini, at the 22nd NRA, now UPDF, anniversary at Bombo military headquarters yesterday, a new barracks will be constructed for the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) in Entebbe and a block of flats built to accommodate the pilots in the same area.
President Yoweri Museveni, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, the Vice-President, Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe, movement vice-chairman Moses Kigongo, ministers, state minister for defence Ruth Nankabirwa and military delegations from friendly countries attended the seven-hour long function.
A Sudanese military
delegation led by the deputy Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Bashir, and the Uganda National Rescue Front II (UNRF II) rebel chief, Ali Bamuze, received a big welcome.
Kazini introduced Bamuze as “acting Major General”.
Education minister Khiddu Makubuya, who was recently locked up in a car boot for over five hours after his official vehicle was grabbed at gunpoint, arrived in an old white ministry van. The security stopped him to ask who he was as he drove to the venue from the Quarter guard.
Kazini, who outlined several UPDF achievements, said, “plans are underway to put up a school of artillery and air defence at Butiaba, Hoima district, an armoured warfare training school at Karama-Kabamba, Mubende district and construct gun sheds in Mbarara and other stations.”
“All these projects, your excellency, will be made possible out of the savings from the soldiers salaries,” Kazini said.
The UPDF previously sent its officers to the US, Libya, China, Ghana, Tanzania and Britain for military courses.
Kazini said his administration had dealt with the problem of corruption and ghost soldiers.
Museveni declared 2003 a year of readiness to hold dialogue with his opponents but warned that he would mobilise the necessary resources to crush those who try to destabilise Uganda.
“This year 2003 will be a year of peace. We are going to do everything possible to have a peaceful Uganda. We shall be in dialogue with everybody,” Museveni said, adding that, “peace is not a favour but an entitlement.”
Dressed in military fatigue, Museveni appealed to various rebel factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo to initiate dialogue among themselves.
He said Uganda will not sit back when its security is threatened by rogue elements from Congo. Ends

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