President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned the newly commissioned officers against making the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) a job but consider it an obligation to defend the country.

President Museveni said this while presiding over the commissioning of 774 officer cadets who finished a one-year training at Basic Military Training School-Kaweweta (BMTS-Kaweweta) on June 4, 2024.

The president asked the young officers to avoid corruption and fight it, saying that they should aim at serving their motherland. He, therefore, called upon the officers to embrace the spirit of patriotism and Pan-Africanism.

“Part of the problem with Africans is that they look at the Army as a job. The Army is not a job; it’s an obligation to defend your country. When you are defending your country, it’s not a job. Don’t bring careerism in the Army. You have an obligation to defend the country,” President Museveni said.

President Museveni called for unity among the newly commissioned officers as they execute their tasks, saying that fighting requires combined efforts.

“When you are going to fight, don’t fight with one element. Warfare needs combined efforts, and we are trying to expose our trainees so early to have a preliminary exposure concept so that they know it from the beginning. So I hope you young officers have a good preliminary exposure to fighting,” he said.

He asked Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), to work towards improving the welfare of officers, like building barracks so that the officers don’t have to stay in rented houses. The president further said that the wives of officers should be involved in economic activities like dairy and coffee farming.

Additionally, President Museveni asked the army officers to show interest in building and strengthening social infrastructure, like Army schools and health facilities. He gave the example of having a primary school near every battalion and a secondary school near every brigade.

Gen Muhoozi urged the commissioned officers to serve their country, protect Ugandans, and avoid tainting their names with evil, like getting involved in corruption, among others.

“Your actions will shape the future of the force. So, avoid tainting your names with evil, like corruption,” he said.

He strongly encouraged them to adopt the principles of duty and love for their country to guide them, adding that they should foster the spirit of unity and serve with humility and compassion.

“The solidarity of the weak can overpower the strong,” Gen Muhoozi noted.

The General noted that Africa and the world are undergoing profound changes.

The commissioned officers were selected from various districts across Uganda while 28 of them came from Mali and Tanzania to be trained.

The pass-out was attended by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of Mali; Director General of Internal Security Organization (ISO), Brig Gen Charles Oluka; Gen Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport; Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, the Director of Defence Public Information; delegation from Mali and Tanzania; Sarah Mateke, the State Minister of Defence and Veterinary Affairs; Ministers; Members of Parliament (MPs); and officers from Uganda Police Force, UPDF and Uganda Prison Service; the Regional Internal Security Officer (RISO), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) and other local and political leaders including LCI chairpersons and LCIII chairperson; religious leaders and the parents.