President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has praised the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for their growing role in safeguarding national and regional stability, emphasizing the value of indigenous training programs that empower the military with strategic, home-grown solutions.
While officiating at the third graduation ceremony of the National Defence College Uganda (NDCU) in Buikwe District on Wednesday, President Museveni described the UPDF’s evolution as a significant step in building a sustainable and autonomous security force.
“I want to congratulate the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and UPDF for finally building a comprehensive infrastructure both human and physical for the defence of Uganda and for contributing to the security of Africa,” said President Museveni.
The Commander-in-Chief noted that the establishment of key institutions like the NDCU reflects a shift towards long-term self-reliance, allowing Uganda to reduce dependence on external military assistance while bolstering peace operations across borders.
Highlighting the UPDF’s involvement in peacekeeping missions in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan, Museveni credited the military’s professionalism and ideological clarity for its ability to “export peace” often without donor funding, particularly outside the African Union-funded operations in Somalia.
The President, however, called for a review of the academic content taught at military institutions like NDCU. He urged military educators to deeply integrate the political economy of global affairs and Africa’s place within it, arguing that ideological grounding is essential to national sovereignty.
“As you train our people, you should also bring these points out clearly because we have written about them,” he said. “Our success must not only be measured in guns and ranks, but in minds and ideas that understand the strategic context of Africa’s challenges.”
The National Defence College, inaugurated in 2022, is Uganda’s highest military institution, designed to provide senior military and civilian leaders with knowledge in strategic leadership, governance, and national security.
This year’s graduation class included senior officers from Uganda and other partner states, signaling the college’s growing regional influence in shaping future defence and policy leaders.
As Uganda faces complex security threats and a shifting geopolitical landscape, the President’s message underscored the urgency of cultivating military thinkers who can anticipate and respond to global and regional dynamics with clarity, discipline, and a pan-African vision.
