Published on 14/02/2025
Forty-three (43) Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces soldiers graduated from a six-week Advanced Heavy Equipment Operators Course, held at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capacity in Gaddafi Barracks, Jinja City.
The training, a partnership with the Ministry of Works and Transport, equipped soldiers with vital skills in heavy machinery operation.
Presiding over the ceremony, the Jinja Cantonment Commander, Brig Gen Emmanuel Kanyesigye, who represented the Chief of Joint Staff, emphasised the significance of the training.
“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 stated.
He further noted that the acquired skills would greatly contribute to infrastructure development, positively impacting national progress.
He urged the graduates to remain patriotic, embrace sacrifice, and reject corruption while upholding the core values of the UPDF to make meaningful contributions to Uganda’s development.
The URDC Commander, Brig Gen Earnest Nuwagaba, commended Ministry of Works and Transport for honouring the UPDF’s request to train troops, attributing this achievement to strong collaboration between the two institutions.
He highlighted that the soldiers were trained to operate various heavy machinery, including bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, motor graders, bucket hoes, dump trucks, and compactors He expressed confidence that this training would enhance the operational capability of both URDC and the UPDF at large.
Engineer Wata Ivan, who oversaw the training on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Transport, congratulated the UPDF leadership on achieving this milestone in professionalizing the force.
He advised the graduates to always prioritize safety and efficiency, not only for themselves but also for others and the proper maintenance of the equipment, stressing that the government had invested significant resources in acquiring it.
The ceremony was attended by URDC Chief of Staff, Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso, senior officers from URDC Headquarters, and officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport, among others.
