The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), in partnership with the Ministry of Works and Transport, has trained 43 soldiers in advanced heavy equipment operations to enhance the military's engineering and disaster response capabilities.
The six-week course took place at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capacity (URDC) unit in Gaddafi Barracks, Jinja City. The soldiers learned to operate bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, motor graders, bucket hoes, dump trucks, and compactors.
Boosting Military Readiness and National Development
Presiding over the graduation ceremony, Jinja Cantonment Commander Brig Gen Emmanuel Kanyesigye, who represented the Chief of Joint Staff, emphasized the training’s importance in strengthening the UPDF’s operational effectiveness.
“This is building the capacity and capability of URDC, which is a manifestation of a fully professional UPDF that can now respond in time to any disaster within and outside Uganda,” Brig Gen Kanyesigye said.
He urged the graduates to remain patriotic, embrace sacrifice, and uphold the UPDF’s core values while rejecting corruption. He also highlighted the role of infrastructure development in national progress.
Strengthening Institutional Collaboration
URDC Commander Brig Gen Earnest Nuwagaba commended the Ministry of Works and Transport for its support in training UPDF troops, describing the partnership as key to the force’s modernization.
“This training enhances the operational capability of both URDC and the UPDF at large,” Brig Gen Nuwagaba said.
Engineer Wata Ivan, who oversaw the training on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Transport, congratulated the UPDF on achieving this milestone. He urged the soldiers to prioritize safety and proper equipment maintenance, noting that the government had invested significant resources in acquiring the machinery.
The ceremony was attended by URDC Chief of Staff Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso, senior URDC officers, and officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
