Museveni commissions 223 UPDF cadets

President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday commissioned 223 Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) cadets at the Uganda Military Academy Kabamba in Mubende district.

The commissioned cadets included 24 females and 20 Somalis, who Uganda trained as part of the process of beefing up the Somali National Army ahead of the proposed transition from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to the national army in the conflict-torn country.

The officers were trained for 52 weeks in basic military skills, combat and operational technical skills, among other professional doctrines.

"Joining the UPDF is a rare opportunity and honour for one to serve their country. This evening at Kabamba, 223 young people have graduated into this opportunity, not only to be a part of but to become leaders within the institution," Museveni said.

He added: "It is a rarer opportunity today, because as the country's resources expand, so does the capacity to grow a modern army."

The President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of armed forces, urged parents not to bother the newly commissioned cadets, especially begging them for money, saying their unending demands will force the cadets to engage into corrupt-tendencies to sustain the demands.

"When you demand from them, you make them steal," Museveni said, rallying the cadets and their parents to engage in wealth creation projects rather than depending on subsistence farming.

According to Museveni, 68% of Ugandans that are still trapped into subsistence farming, need to be helped to transform into commercial farmers in order to improve their household income and fight poverty.