The President of the Republic of Uganda and the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces, Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has expressed satisfaction with the quality of training for the Special Forces.
Museveni made the remarks during pass out of the UPDF commandos after undergoing a 16 months Special Forces qualification course at Butiaba Marines Training School in Buliisa district. This was the 4th intake of its kind.The President noted that the multiple demonstrations conducted by the trainees portrayed the quality of training undergone.
“I congratulate these young troops who completed this very tough course. Army is tough but this is tougher. The army has big capacity but Special Forces creates a special capacity in operating in small units and doing things which cannot be done in a regular way. Special Forces is an important force multiplier,” the President said.
He added that it is because of developing special operations capability in the UPDF that the Al Shabaab were flashed out from their established bases in Mogadishu. “The Special Forces snipers did a great job in Mogadishu that helped the defeat of Al Shabaab from the Somali city,” he said.
The Commander-In Chief pledged his continued support in the professionalization drive of the UPDF. Speaking at the pass out ceremony, the Minister of State for Defence in Charge of General Duties, Col Rtd Charles Okello Engola commended the newly passed out Commandos and asked them to carry on the mantle of the revolution that was started by their predecessors in the liberation struggle of the country.
“As we celebrate your achievement today, we should be reminded of our military history and those who sacrificed for this country. They represent the past and you now represent the future. Carry on this noble responsibility with pride while conscious of the UPDF requirement of loyalty, patriotism, discipline, teamwork and pro-people ideology,”Engola emphasized.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen David Muhoozi said the demonstrations are a testimony that the trainees have been given a good foundation on which they can build on and such training speaks loudly to the continued professionalization drive in the UPDF. “A lot has gone on in the UPDF in terms of force generation and skills plus proficiencies development,” he said.
Gen Muhoozi meanwhile, cautioned the officers and militants to remain healthy so that they are capable of undergoing further training to match technological advancements. “Hardware and software are key in force generation but we also need smart people,” the CDF said.
The Commander Special Forces Command, Maj Gen Birungi said that the UPDF Special Forces Command has steadily improved its training on all the five training cycles of Special Forces as done in armies world over.
“SFC is steadily growing in quality and quantity by leaps and bounds. We thank the Commander-In-Chief for his strategic guidance, efforts and contribution; firstly, for conceiving the idea of establishing SFC in 2004,” Maj Gen James Birungi said.
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