President Museveni Commissions Marine Upgraded Capabilities, Commends Expansion Of Marines Brigade

His Excellency the President of Uganda and Commander-in-Chief commended the efforts towards the growth and expansion of the Marines Brigade through its establishment of training centres in Butiaba, Kalangalo and Ntokolo.

“Twenty percent of Uganda is under fresh water and some of it is on the borders. It therefore has got a lot of security implications. These boats have always had good capacity and surveillance at a distance but we are also planning to have surveillance on land,” said H.E Museveni.

President Museveni was today speaking at the commissioning of Marine Upgraded Capabilities at the Marines Sustainment Base, Ntokolo in Mayuge District.

He said that efforts are underway for the electronic marking of boats to address indiscipline and illegal fishing on the lakes.

President Museveni urged the Marines Brigade to widen their knowledge by studying the history of Naval warfare.

The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja in his address thanked the President for consistently enhancing the UPDF capabilities amidst competing national priorities and aptly responding to threats to national and regional security.

Hon. Ssempijja said that this is a significant milestone in the journey towards strengthening the armed forces and core national security.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Defence Force, the Joint Chief of Staff, Major General Leopold Kyanda said that the UPDF today witnessed a significant development in its unwavering commitment to enhancing its capacity and capabilities for the efficient and effective attainment of the UPDF’s Constitutional mandate and mission.

Maj Gen Kyanda said that this is in line with one of the CDF’s strategic priorities of capacity enhancement that involves the acquisition, refurbishment, and maintenance of military equipment.

He commended the Marines Brigade for fostering expansion with the requisite enablers and the equipment for facilitating capacity-building efforts and has shown presence on the entire water bodies of the country.

The Commander Marines Brigade, Brig Gen Michael Nyarwa said that today marked a momentous occasion in the annals of the UPDF and in the history of the Marines Brigade.

“As we commission these upgraded capabilities, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to securing our lakes, conducting search and rescue operations and protecting high-profile targets effectively and efficiently,” said Brig Gen Nyarwa

He thanked the Commander-in-Chief for his strategic guidance to the UPDF leadership towards acquiring capabilities relevant to the effective and efficient attainment of the UPDF mission and said, “I am confident that our enhanced capabilities will play a crucial role in fulfilling our constitutional objectives.”

The function was attended by; the third Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Rukia Nakadama, Hon. Aggrey Bagiire, Generals, Senior Officers, junior officers and staff of the Marines Brigade.