SFC retrains top officers

The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Lt. Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, has congratulated Special Forces Command (SFC) officers on completing a six-week refresher course, saying this should motivate them to serve their country better and contribute positively to national and regional issues.

He said the course was organised with the aim of refreshing the officers, both mentally and physically on the basics of military theories and practical applications.

"When you prepare like this, we are sure that you can contribute positively to national and regional issues more professionally," he said, according to a release from State House.

Mbadi noted that UPDF's idea, with the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Yoweri Museveni, is to establish an effective, efficient and professional force that is acceptable to the people of Uganda in order to deliver on its constitutional mandate.

He said this can only be achieved through the taking of refresher courses that are progressive and motivational. Mbadi was speaking as chief guest at the SFC officers passing-out ceremony at Nakasongola military barracks, in Nakasongola district on Monday.

The SFC officers trained for five weeks at the Special  Forces Training School at Sera Kasenyi and one week's practical training at the Nakasongola barracks.

The officers underwent ideological orientation, physical training, political education and mobilisation including various military and warfare drills and skills.

During the passing-out, the trainees demonstrated skills learnt during the course.

After touring the training field, Mbadi said courses of that kind improve the competence and proficiency of the officers.

He urged the officers to have discipline and remain loyal to their country, Constitution, the President, institutions and commanders.

He encouraged them to continue exercising in order to remain physically fit and healthy. refresher course

He thanked the leadership of the SFC for coming up with the idea organising the refresher course for the officers during the COVID-19 period.

The SFC commander, Maj. Gen. James Birungi, said refresher courses are good for they remind the officers of their constitutional mandate and enable them to learn new ideas from one another.

In March, President Museveni passed out 110 UPDF commandos who had completed 16 months of specialised training.

The passing out ceremony for the fourth intake of the SFC tier 1, also known as the Special Forces qualifications course, took place at Butiaba Marine Training School, Buliisa district.

"I congratulate the young fighters on completing this tough course. The army is tough, but this is tougher. The army has big capacity but Special Forces create professional capacity in operating in small units and doing things that cannot be done in a regular way. Special Forces are an important force in building special capacity," he said in his address to the soldiers.