The Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) has passed out 165 company commanders after undergoing three months of vigorous training at School of Infantry in Bihanga in Ibanda district.
Five of the successful officers were Allied Students from Burkina Faso.
Lt. Gen Kayanja Muhanga, the commander of the Land Forces, presided over the pass-out ceremony.
The event attracted several senior military officers from UPDF training schools, the Uganda Police Force, Prisons and leaders from Kazo and Ibanda districts.
Brig. Gen Godfrey Golooba, the commandant of Infantry School Bihanga said the course officially opened on June 4th this year, and all the 165 commanders recruited successfully passed.
He said students were equipped with the ability to understand battle procedures, appreciating tactless and operational situations at the company and in battalion framework, adding that they were also taken through several modules.
The company commanders’ course and operations are designed to develop commanders in commander knowledge, leadership, targets and operations up to battalion level.
Golooba explained that the course aims to produce potential Infantry commanders equipped with broad leadership skills at company and battalion levels.
Lt. Gen Muhanga congratulated and thanked the commanders for exhibiting what he termed the highest level of discipline during the training period.
He hailed officers from Burkina Faso for commitment and informed participants at the event that Uganda and Burkina Faso have a long time-shared historical comradeship, ideology and brotherhood.
Muhanga who did the same course in 1998 when he was at the rank of captain; urged the commanders to uphold discipline and keep living a healthy life.
“We managed to achieve what we have today because we kept ourselves safe and focused, you need to guard against indiscipline that comes with a lot of health problems like drunkenness, sleeping with many girls and women, stealing government money, selling soldiers food, trying to create ghosts, with all these you will not live up to the age we have lived,” Muhanga warned.
He also urged the commanders to be obedient and loyal to their superiors.
He challenged young soldiers to readily take up military assignments , saying that he managed to climb the ranks because of active participation in operations.
“We need commanders at all levels and that is why we have brought you here to learn how to command and we need you in command,” he added.
“Appreciate workouts, exercise your body if you want to live longer and serve the country with good health.
“Just love your job and do it effectively. Money will come, I didn’t look for money, I just loved my job and I now have money, if I had love for money, it was going to kill my career, just do your job, and good things will follow you,” Muhanga said.
Brig. Gen Goloba used the platform to remind the commanders of their roles which include; preparing their troops for combat and accomplishing military objectives.
He also told them that as commanders they must take time to study new leadership skills and techniques to help them manage their increasing responsibilities on the battlefields.
He also asked them to join the fight against corruption and other bad practices.