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.
“You cannot be a political party on the one side, but at the same time you don’t recognise the legitimacy of the government, which is leading the country. They call the government a junta. So now me, I’m part of a junta,” Mao said.
“You cannot be a political party on the one side, but at the same time you don’t recognise the legitimacy of the government, which is leading the country. They call the government a junta. So now me, I’m part of a junta,” Mao said.
"I see people on social media saying that I promised them a transition and asking how it has not happened. Firstly, you don't believe in me. You don't believe in cooperation, yet at the same time you ask, 'Why are you not doing this?’ During the speakership race, you saw that NRM said that I'm not NRM. I think the speakership race answered that big question," Mao noted.
Dumba further argued that the agreement was never approved by DP’s top organs, including the National Executive Committee, National Council, or party delegates, insisting that it remained a personal arrangement rather than a formal party pact.