National Defence College – Uganda Pioneer Students Graduate

The President of the Republic of Uganda and Commander in Chief of the UPDF H.E Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today officiated at the graduation of Course Intake 01/2022 at the National Defence College – Uganda (NDC – U) in Njeru, Buikwe district.

The pioneer eighteen (18) course participants successfully completed the National Security and Strategic Course at the NDC-U, which is the highest defence training institution in the country.

In his remarks, President Museveni congratulated graduands and commended them for upholding the spirit of training.

The President elaborated that a lot of chaos in the world is partly caused by dependency, and thus encouraged them to insist on self-sufficiency and developing capabilities. He said,” Security of each country should be provided by its own people because they know what hurts them.”

He added that Uganda is peaceful because we emphasize the concept of reducing dependency by starting with the nucleus, which is the development of own human resource.

He noted that what the country has achieved so far is a result of the long journey of consciously building our own capacities, most especially in terms of continuous training and welfare management.

The President encouraged graduands to always train soldiers under their command on top of ensuring that they have what they need and what the country can provide.

The CIC cautioned graduands against corruption, which is usually evidenced in the civilian sector, saying that a soldier who shows a corrupt tendency is an enemy of the army.

He further mentioned that NDC-U is now an apex training center to train senior army officers and others from MDAs that make the army strong.

President Museveni encouraged prioritization during planning and promised to continue supporting the college so that it grows into a university.

He also urged local residents to surrender some land to enable the growth of the college, promising compensation for the said. “Grass cannot be near fire,” he said.

He also promised to continue working with the DR Congo army, FARDC, to defeat ADF terrorists. “We want peace in East Africa to do business, not booms or coexistence with terrorists,” he emphasized.

The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs Hon Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja commended President Museveni for the unwavering zeal to provide a peaceful and secure environment for social economic transformation. “You have made many things happen and I pray that you continue,” Hon Ssempijja told the President.

He called for the maintenance of peace and security and urged graduands to help transform communities.

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbadi noted that training has a purpose and should be used to build a UPDF with a Pan African mindset so as to exhibit a professional, efficient and accountable force.

He observed that the acquired training at NDC-U reduced the cost of training, revived our own history, developed our own human resources and enhanced defence diplomacy especially within the region. “We are our own fishermen now,” Gen Mbadi said, adding that security and development are indispensable.

The Commandant NDC-U Maj Gen Francis Okello congratulated graduands and urged them to measure up to the task assigned by the CIC.

He said that all the topics covered like national and regional security, policy formulation, implementation management and research were all anchored on an African setting.

Course One of the academic year 2022/23 drew participants from UPDF services, specialized units and formations; that include Land Force, Air Force and Special Forces Command.

It comprised of 09 Brig Generals and O9 Colonels, of whom 02 are ladies.

At the same ceremony, each graduate was awarded the NDC-U “Dagger” certificate and “Dagger Badge”, in recognition of his/her selfless contribution to the successful conduct of National Security and Strategic studies course at the NDC-Uganda.

The 12 months course contributes to professional and strategic outputs of graduands.

NDC – Uganda was established by President Museveni on 14 November 2021, as a premier and inter-services Government learning institution under the Defence Ministry to provide professional joint defence and security education at strategic level.

Some of the day’s graduands included: Brig Gen Godwin Karugaba, Brig Gen Anthony Mbuusi, Brig Gen Bonny Wolimbwa, Brig Gen Chris Ogwal, Brig Gen Daniel Kakono and Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso, among the Brig Generals.

Col Chris Bagonza, Col Christopher Ogumelaki, Col Cyril Mawa Muhindo and Col Edith Nakalema, among others; are also among NDC-U Course 01/2022 graduands.

The Senior Directing Staff at NDC-U Brig Gen Kefa Nangeso during the award of certificates mentioned that graduands are now free and authorized to wear the NDC-U “dagger” badge and use the post-nominal “ndc+” against their names on all official communications.

The first graduation ceremony of the college was also attended by the Minister of State for Defence and Veterans Affairs Hon Oboth Markons Jacob, Minister of State for Internal Affairs Gen David Muhoozi, Gender State Minister Mr. Henry Kibenge, Deputy IGG Ms. Anne Twinomugisha, MoDVA Under Secretary in charge of Finance and Administration Mrs. Edith Buturo, and MoDVA Under Secretary in charge of logistics Mr. Ngabirano Francis Kahiriita, among others.

The 18 participants are hoping to complete a Master of Arts from Strategic Security (MASS) from Makerere University in 2024. Gen Mbadi awarded best students with certificates and medals to recognize their performance.