Over 100 senior officers of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) have graduated with diplomas in the French language after completing a nine-month course at the Junior Command and Staff College in Jinja.

The graduation ceremony was held at the residence of the French Ambassador to Uganda, Her Excellency Virginie Leroy, in Kampala.

She noted that the course reflects efforts to deepen military cooperation and align with international standards in modern peacekeeping missions, where effective communication is essential.

Representing the Joint Staff Human Resource Management, Colonel Emmanuel Muhoozi expressed appreciation to the French Embassy for its ongoing support, particularly in continuous training, and encouraged officers to apply their newly acquired skills to foster stronger international partnerships.

The Defence Attaché of France to Uganda, Lt Col Sebastein Berger, emphasized the shared values between Uganda and France, particularly their mutual commitment to promoting peace and security, citing joint efforts such as operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Amon Senkwari said that the French language is a vital tool for engagement with other armed forces, especially in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, to support peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.

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