President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), commissioned 413 officers after they completed an intensive six-month armor warfare course at the Uganda Military Academy in Kabamba, Mubende District.
The graduates included 74 armor platoon commanders, 122 armor technicians, and 217 armor crew members. The course focused on advanced skills and tactics in mechanized warfare, preparing the officers to operate in modern combat environments.
While officiating the pass-out ceremony, President Museveni praised the graduates for mastering complex equipment and tactics in a relatively short period.
“I want to congratulate the graduates for learning quickly in six months where you mastered this equipment of tanks in the four courses that have been mentioned here. I want to congratulate you and pass you out today,” he said.
The President emphasized the need for a well-rounded approach to defense, combining modern technology with strategic military organization.
“War is an old science and an old art. Science in the form of equipment and art in the way you are organised and utilise the equipment. Science always influences the organization and the tactics,” he told the officers.
He further urged them to adapt to emerging threats such as unmanned aerial vehicles and evolving air force capabilities.
“The tank has new threats like the air force which has been improving and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), so we need to understand the packaging of capacity,” President Museveni added.
In his address, the President encouraged the new officers to maintain personal discipline and remain committed to their responsibilities.
“Love yourself so that you don’t die of diseases, alcohol or drugs. You should remain healthy… but you must also love your equipment because if you don’t look after it well, especially if you are corrupt, when war comes you will die,” he said. “When you see a corrupt soldier, he is your enemy and the enemy of the country.”
President Museveni also highlighted continued efforts to modernize the army, noting progress in infrastructure and training improvements.
“I’m happy that the CDF is still working on welfare, training, and infrastructure. We have been busy building barracks and other training facilities,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, confirmed that the UPDF is upgrading its training facilities to centers of excellence. He revealed that 14 institutions, including the Uganda Military Warfare Academy–Kabamba, have already achieved that status.
Lt. Gen. Okiding also cautioned the officers to maintain discipline and professionalism in their careers.
The Commandant of the Armored Warfare Training School–Karama, Brig. Gen. Peter Chandia, noted that the graduates had been equipped with vital mechanized warfare skills and the fundamentals of firepower mobility. He affirmed that the officers are now capable of deploying mechanized assets effectively in today’s battlefields.
