UPDF probe officers’ operations, courses appointments

By Elizabeth Ankunda

30^th June 2023

The Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja has said that UPDF is reviewing the process of selecting officers for professional courses and deployment in combat operations.

Ssempijja was speaking at the graduation ceremony of 47 senior officers from the East African Community at Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) Kimaka in Jinja District.

The officers completed a one-year course in rigorous military exercises, high-level operational tactics, planning, management, and mission execution.

The hosts, UPDF contributed 36 students; the other EAC countries of Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Rwanda, enrolled two students each, while, South Africa contributed one student officer, Lt. Col. Phineas Noko Senyatsi, who died of natural causes during the course. A moment of silence was observed to remember him.

According to Ssempijja, the army has already established a commission of inquiry on alleged cases of nepotism during the appointment of officers for strategic operations and courses, which will result in disciplinary action against the culprits.

Ssempijja said that the senior command course prepares officers for high-level command and administrative roles, therefore, only capable officers should be enrolled in such courses, so as to nurture competent commanders.

After the attack by al-Shabaab militants on a Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) base in Somalia, President Museveni blamed the attack on some commanders who deployed relatives, who, in most cases, are not well trained or prepared for combat against the highly mobile and efficient militants.

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