US army trains Uganda Military Police

By Raymond Baguma                                 

A group of 145 Military Police officers from the UPDF have completed a 10-week course conducted by the US army at the Uganda Peace Support Operations Training Center in Singo.

The trainees are to be deployed in Somalia as part of the Ugandan soldiers serving there under AMISOM. The training was conducted by US military police from the 2nd Brigade 1st Infantry Division in Kansas State.

The training covered various aspects of military police functions, some of which included public order management, conducting military operations in urban environments, manning checkpoints, marksmanship and medical skills.

Brig. Leopold Kyanda, the Chief of Staff Land Forces, said the training comes at a time when the country is in need of a well-equipped force to guarantee national security, and hailed the American instructors for conducting the training.

During the graduation ceremony held in Singo on Wednesday, Brig. Kyanda urged the trainees to apply the skills acquired and maintain the good image of the UPDF in the areas of their deployment.
 

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US Military Police officers with the UPDF Military Police during a graduation ceremony at Singo.  The UPDF military training among others  focused on route security, riot control marksmanship, medical skills, check points and unarmed self-defence.  Photo/Enock Kakande

Lt. Col. William Wyatt, the Chief of Security Cooperation at the US Embassy in Kampala, said whereas the training equipped the UPDF with skills necessary in an operation environment, the US military instructors had also benefited a lot from the experience.

The UPDF Director of Civil Training, Col. John Mary Kaganda said that with the skills imparted, the trainees were ready for deployment for mission.

The Military Police is charged with ensuring discipline in the armed forces; and offers support to the civilian police whenever there are riots. 

Col. Kayanja Muhanga, the Commander of UPDF Military Police, said that it is necessary for the Military Police to undergo training because the force is also important in peacekeeping operations.

A number of officers including the Company commander, Capt. Alex Tinka were awarded certificates for having excelled in tactics and discipline during the training.