President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned 280 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer cadets, urging security agencies to crack down on rural crime and protect government efforts to improve household incomes.
President Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the the Armed Forces (CIC), made the call during the commissioning ceremony for Officer Cadets Intake 09/26 and Bachelor of Defence Studies Intake 05/23/29 at Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba in Mubende District.
“When you get thieves stealing the goats and cows from the farmers which have been given by the PDM, that’s sabotage. It shouldn’t be tolerated,” he warned.
The President also emphasised the importance of a strong economy, military discipline, technological advancement and cooperation with the population in strengthening national defence.
“First of all, congratulations to the graduates. You have started a long journey in a very honourable organisation, the UPDF. If you do your part and don’t get diverted, you will make a good contribution,” President Museveni said.
The 280 commissioned officers included 187 professional cadets who began training in February 2026 and 87 Bachelor of Defence Studies cadets who started training on September 18th, 2023. Eleven of the newly commissioned officers are female. Six additional cadets trained abroad, including Officer Cadets Ruhamya Kainerugaba and Andrew Bakira, who attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.
On national defence, President Museveni called for stronger African military cooperation and increased investment in science and technology.
“We need to coordinate with our brother African countries to work together so that we create capacity on land, air, at sea and even space because that’s where the war is now,” he said.
He also urged the UPDF to maintain strong ties with the population.
“The strategic relationship between the army and the people is important. The army must always make sure that it is like fish in the sea,” President Museveni noted.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who attended the ceremony with his wife, Charlotte Kainerugaba, raised concern over increasing violent crime in some parts of Uganda, including robberies, killings and sexual assaults.
“However, on the domestic front, we have recently noted an increase in violent crime in some parts of the country, and this has caused a bit of unease in those affected areas,” he said.
He warned that security agencies would intensify operations against the perpetrators, adding, “No effort will be spared until the sanctity of the right to life and property is fully restored for all the people in our country.”
Gen Kainerugaba also reported progress in UPDF peace and stabilisation missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Somalia, while highlighting improvements in soldiers’ welfare, accommodation, healthcare and pay.
The Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister, Kiryowa Kiwanuka urged the newly commissioned officers to uphold professionalism, integrity and constitutional loyalty.
“Wear your uniform with honour. Lead with integrity and discipline. Remain loyal to the Commander-in-Chief and the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda,” he said.
The Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba Commandant, Brig Gen Saad Katemba commended the graduates for their resilience and urged them to resist attempts to undermine their professional development.
The ceremony, attended by senior military officers, also recognised outstanding cadets. Officer Cadet Enos Kugumaho of the Special Forces Command (SFC) was named overall best performer, while Officer Cadet Gloria Kwakunda, also from SFC, was recognised as best in class. Officer Cadet Derrick Hongoro of the Land Forces was named best in field, and Officer Cadet Shemack Abreziz from Kenya received the award for best in tactics.
