Lt Gen Nakibus Lakara has been applauded for building capacity at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capacity Centre (URDCC) in terms of resources, infrastructure, personnel, and training during his two years of service as the Commandant of the center.
This was revealed by the Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhozi while officiating at the handover and take over ceremony between the outgoing Commandant URDCC Lt Gen Nakibus Lakara and in coming to Comdt Maj Gen Paul Lokech at the URDCC Headquarters in Jinja Gadaffi Barracks.
“Gen Lakara has achieved a good environment at URDCC for the new Commandant”. Said Gen Muhozi.
URDCC is an active center now, that portrays the image of UPDF.
The CDF was impressed by the way Lt Gen Lakara handled diplomatic partners at URDCC such as the UK government and US government without any hitches. This resulted in the donation of equipment to URDCC like the communication House by the US government, Computers by the UK government and other strategic assets. “URDCC is now a competitive area due to the outstanding performance of Lt Gen Lakara”. Gen Muhoozi added.
He pledged competencies that can match UN Standards and thus the need for integrated capabilities like Medical, Airforce, Engineers and Legal services.
Gen Muhoozi said that URDCC was started in the complex of developing African Peace Keeping Forces such as East African Stand by Force (EASF), AMISOM, IGAD, ECOWAS, among others. It was a joint effort between the Uganda government and the UK government. It is operating in a spaced way of Jinja and Singo whereby Jinja is a planning center while Singo is a training ground.
He congratulated the outgoing and incoming Commandants upon being promoted to the ranks of Lt Gen and Maj Gen respectively.
He also congratulated Gen Lokech upon the good work of destroying Alshabaab in Somalia that has made UPDF proud.
In his report, Lt Gen Lakara informed the CDF and other witnesses in the hand over,that they have conducted various Chemical and Biological training, Engineering, Peace Support Operations, Military Information Support Operations and medical at URDCC and conducted various forms of training overseas like Command Post Exercise Justified Accord 2, hazardous material handling and Cooperative training among others.
He thanked the Commander in Chief for the trust and support that enabled him to play a smooth leadership role.
Gen Lakara heads to Somalia as Deputy Force Commander in charge of Operations.
In his remarks, Maj Gen Lokech thanked the almighty God for the gift of life and thanked the Commander in Chief for entrusting him with this new appointment. He thanked the outgoing Commandant for the great work and accepted to take the new appointment wholeheartedly and asked everyone to support him in his new work.
The ceremony was attended by the Joint Chief of Staff Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu, the Jinja Cantonment Commander Maj General John Lorot, all staff officers of URDC among others.
