President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who serves as the Commander in Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), presided over the passing out of 4,212 Local Defence Personnel (LDP) at Olilim Training School in Katakwi District on Friday, October 13, 2023. During the ceremony, President Museveni expressed his congratulations to the trainees and the Ugandan population as a whole for their collective efforts in strengthening the country’s armed forces and other key institutions.
The President highlighted the educational qualifications of the trainees, noting that nearly all of them possessed at least an O’ level certificate, with 500 among them being university graduates. He emphasized the significant change over the years, where obtaining a graduate qualification is now more common than finding a primary seven leaver in the army. This shift towards higher education, he mentioned, facilitates easier learning and makes the institutions more efficient.
President Museveni stressed the need for training schools like Olilim to become centers of excellence, providing exposure to trainees, enhancing their knowledge, and fostering personal development. He expressed his desire for these institutions to showcase the standards of excellence in facilities and education.
Additionally, the President acknowledged the improved security situation in the Teso Subregion and emphasized the need for disciplined and efficient handling of security matters in the area.
The passing out ceremony also featured President Museveni awarding the top-performing students from the training course.
Vice President Major (Rtd) Jessica Alupo commended President Museveni for his efforts in professionalizing the UPDF and other armed forces, leading to greater stability throughout Uganda. She also recognized the President’s contributions to the security and peace of neighboring countries, which have opened up opportunities for Ugandan exports.
Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, praised the President’s commitment to building a strong and reliable army. He encouraged the trainees to serve with loyalty and dedication.
Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (D/CDF), Lt Gen. Peter Elwelu, pledged the UPDF’s commitment to implementing the President’s strategic guidance for building a professional, patriotic, and disciplined force focused on maintaining peace and security within Uganda and the region through continuous training and retraining.
The Commandant of Olilim Training School, Lt Col. Eria Mugasa, reported on the training journey of the 4,212 Local Defence Personnel who completed 58 weeks of basic military training. A total of 697 were female trainees, with 91 trainees dropping out during the course for various reasons.
The pass-out ceremony saw the attendance of various dignitaries, including Ministers, Members of Parliament, and UPDF leadership, among others.
