President Museveni Passes out Over 300 UPDF Tank Crews

By Kampala Post Reporter

The President and Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces, Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday passed out UPDF troops, after successfully completing an Armoured Basic Crew Training Course at Armoured Warfare Training School (AWTS) in Mubende District.

The President expressed satisfaction with the skills displayed by the 321 trainees on target identification, acquisition and destruction.

“I want to congratulate the graduands for completing their course and for doing well. I was watching the accuracy of different guns,” he said.

The President thanked the instructors for a job well done and said the remarkable performance demonstrates the trainees’ ability to effectively utilize the acquired knowledge.

“Putting to use the acquired knowledge will help us better the UPDF institution,” he said.

Museveni commended the Russian Government for exhibiting a spirit of friendship to Uganda that he said has enabled the UPDF to receive both equipment and training support. The President also hailed the UPDF leadership for preserving the environment at the training school and said there are plans to better accommodation facilities in all military barracks.

He meanwhile implored civilians to stop encroaching on UPDF land, saying the act puts the Force in a compromising state.

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi noted improvement in UPDF training and promised to maintain it.

“We have been able to cope with the ever changing training requirements. This has made UPDF better than before,” he said. Gen Muhoozi urged the graduands to maintain their loyalty to the country and the UPDF, observe discipline, and ensure a healthy living so that they can effectively execute their constitutional duties.

Brig Deus Sande, the Commandant of AWTS, lauded the instructors, especially the Russian experts, for being committed and reliable to the cause of transforming the UPDF.

The one-year course was on T-90, T-72 and T-55 tanks. The trainees also acquired skills on application of Infantry Fighting Vehicles, both tracked and wheeled. According to the Chief Instructor Col Jackson Kajuba, the course aimed at building capacity of tank operators to reinforce armoured formations in the UPDF.

The function ended with the award of gifts to the best students in various disciplines.

The graduation was attended by, among others, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Duties Lt Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso, Member of Parliament for Kasanda North Simeo Nsubuga, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi, UPDF Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, Commander Air Forces Lt Gen Charles Lutaya and Commander Special Forces Command Maj Gen James Birungi.