Refresher training for UPDF communications officers

ARMY | COMMUNICATION

Communications and media officers from the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the defence ministry are undergoing a one-week refresher training as a way of improving their communications skills.

Officials from the British army, together with UPDF officers, started training the group in Kampala on Monday. The training will run until Friday.

In a statement issued by the army deputy spokesperson, Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki, the training in media planning and strategic communication is being conducted in conjunction with the UK Joint Information Activity Group (JIAG).

It aims at enhancing effectiveness in performance and personal growth among Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA)/UPDF Communications Officers and media staff.

In his opening remarks, the UPDF Joint Chief of Staff, Lt Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, who was the chief guest, said the training aims at augmenting the vision of UPDF.

"UPDF needs to continuously inform the public on what we do and why we exist to build a professional image," he said.

He encouraged participants to proactively inform the public as earlier guided by the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, of the need to continuously inform the public on the core activities and build more on the image of the UPDF.

UK army trainers and UPDF officers in a group photo on the opening day of the training. (Courtesy photo)

Musanyufu commended the UK Joint Information Activities Group as a partner in the week-long training for offering to improve the quality of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF communicators.

He further guided on the need to build adequate and credible defence capacity to address both internal and external threats through continuous information dissemination, adding that transferring knowledge effectively through information sharing strengthens the UPDF doctrine of being a Pro-People Army.

The defence advisor to the British High Commissioner to Uganda, Lt. Col. Mathew Edwards, on behalf of the High Commissioner, Ambassador Peter West, encouraged participants to be more interactive in order to get what they want from the course.

UPDF spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire said the training provides an opportunity for rapid improvement of communication skills among participants. He urged participants to learn how to tell their own stories to score an impact on the public.

Monday's opening session was attended by the defence ministry's human resource commissioner, Cox Anguzo, the chairman of the Government Communicators Forum, John Oyambi and other senior UPDF officers.