Officers of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) have graduated with diplomas in the French language after completing a nine-month course at the Junior Command and Staff College in Jinja.
The graduation ceremony took place at the residence of the French Ambassador to Uganda, Her Excellency Virginie Leroy, in Kampala on March 18, 2026. She described the course as a sign of growing military cooperation between Uganda and France.
“The French language belongs to those who speak it, who want it, who learn it, and who keep it alive,” she said.
Ambassador Leroy stressed the importance of French in modern military operations. She said it is key in peacekeeping and multinational deployments, where clear communication is essential.
Representing Joint Staff Human Resource Management, Colonel Emmanuel Muhoozi thanked the French Embassy for its continued support, especially in training.
He said French goes beyond communication and acts as a bridge that strengthens cooperation and improves effectiveness in peacekeeping and multinational operations.
He urged the officers to use their new skills to build stronger international partnerships.
The Defence Attaché of France to Uganda, Lt Col Sebastein Berger, highlighted shared values between Uganda and France. He pointed to their joint commitment to peace and security, including operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
Speaking for the graduates, Amon Senkwari said the French language is a key tool for engaging with other armed forces, especially in regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.
Defence Attachés from several countries accredited to Uganda attended the ceremony.
