Mbarara City – The UPDF 2nd Infantry Division recently graduated 79 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) who completed a seven-week Ideological Orientation course at the Division Headquarters in Mbarara City.
The course, which is conducted twice annually, aims to equip NCOs with analytical skills to understand current challenges and make informed decisions within their units.
During the pass-out ceremony, Maj Gen Paul Muhanguzi, the 2nd Division Commander, emphasized the importance of ideology in the military, stating that it fosters individual and unit consciousness, aligns the force with its constitutional mandate, and strengthens community relations.
“Ideological Orientation is a powerful tool in shaping us,” Maj Gen Muhanguzi said. “It helps to promote individual Consciousness, Unit consciousness and gives us a clear public outlook. Infact, Ideological Consciousness helps to keep the force focussed to our constitutional mandate, it helps to keep our mother land safe from any threats and bridges the gap between us and the civilian community.”
He urged unit commanders to continuously identify and train soldiers to disseminate the acquired knowledge within their units, both during peacetime and wartime.
Maj Gen Muhanguzi also congratulated the NCOs for their resilience and endurance throughout the intensive training and encouraged them to maintain a positive image of the UPDF within their units and communities.
The Deputy Division Commander, Col James Kasule, congratulated Maj Gen Muhanguzi on his recent promotion and commended his hard work and dedication to the UPDF.
The course curriculum included sessions with academicians, military facilitators from the Joint Staff Political Commissariat, and field visits to various factories and industries in Western Uganda.
The pass-out ceremony was attended by senior UPDF officers, including Col Sam Armstrong Nduga (Training and Officer), Lt Col David Bamutaze (Administrative Officer), Lt Remmy Mutabazi (Political Commissar), commanding officers of specialized units, and heads of departments at the 2nd Division Headquarters.
