President Yoweri Museveni, who also serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has praised Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and the entire UPDF leadership for significant improvements in soldiers’ infrastructure and overall welfare.
The President made these remarks on Thursday during the pass-out parade of recruits at the Basic Military Training School in Kaweweta.
The historic joint ceremony involved graduates from four training schools: Special Forces Command Ruhengyere, 3 Infantry Division Training School Olimin in Katakwi District, 5 Infantry Division Training School Labworodongo in Agago District, and Butiaba Training School in Buliisa District under the Artillery Division.
According to the CDF, 10,207 of the graduates are Ugandans, while 1,741 are from the Central African Republic (CAR).
This represents the largest intake of allied foreign soldiers in Uganda since the 1990s, when the country hosted Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), during South Africa’s liberation struggle.
President Museveni congratulated both the UPDF and CAR recruits on successfully completing the demanding training. He urged them to uphold discipline, patriotism, and personal health.
“Soldiers go through rigorous training to be effective, which is like sharpening a panga before using it to cut wood,” the President said.
He explicitly warned instructors against employing colonial-style methods such as beating soldiers.
Museveni acknowledged Uganda’s notable achievements but stressed that even more progress could have been made “if it wasn’t for those who slept.”
He highlighted the vital link between a strong military and a strong economy, reinforcing the CDF’s point that discipline and strict financial accountability are essential for national development and military strength.
In his speech, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba reaffirmed the UPDF’s full commitment to the government’s goal of building a $500 billion economy by 2040.
The CDF congratulated President Museveni on his political successes in early 2026 — including the January election victory and May inauguration — and wished him good health during his new term under the theme “Kisanja No More Sleep.”
Gen Kainerugaba also thanked former Defence Minister and current Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth for his contributions to the amended UPDF Act 2025 and welfare improvements, expressing confidence in his ongoing support for the military and the country.
On regional operations, the CDF reported UPDF deployments across three borders.
In the DR Congo, forces continue aggressive operations against ADF remnants while enforcing strict safety protocols amid a regional Ebola outbreak.
In South Sudan, security in Juba has greatly improved since the initial UPDF deployment.
In Somalia, the mission faces “sustainability headwinds,” but the High Command, guided by the President, will soon chart a practical way forward.
Domestically, Gen Kainerugaba warned against a “fifth column” of foreign agents and neocolonialist sympathizers seeking to undermine Uganda’s sovereignty.
He stated that security agencies will not tolerate any individuals in politics or the media who threaten national progress.
On internal reforms, the CDF announced continued salary enhancements for officers and other ranks, alongside upgrades to accommodation, offices, and operational facilities.
Military schools and hospitals are being extensively modernized to better serve serving personnel, their families, and reservists.
Gen Kainerugaba concluded by giving the new graduates three key directives: maintain peak physical and medical fitness, uphold absolute discipline and loyalty, and develop an unbreakable warrior spirit.
The Commandant of Kaweweta Training School, Brig Gen John Patrick Otongo, said the recruits had been instilled with a strong sense of responsibility. He noted they are now well-prepared for modern warfare, emphasizing that individual courage, intellect, and determination remain vital even as technology evolves.
Minister of State for Defence Grace Akifeza Ngabirano thanked President Museveni and UPDF leadership for their dedication to strengthening the defence forces.
The event was attended by senior central and local government officials as well as UPDF commanders from various levels.
