Twenty-nine UPDF soldiers have completed a four-week training course in Advanced Brigade Legal Officers Course (ABLOC) at the Legal Training Center (LTC) at Gaddafi Barracks in Jinja City.
Brig. Gen. Prof. Godard Busingye, the Joint Staff Legal Services head in the UPDF, officiated at the graduation ceremony on Saturday. He emphasized the importance of training in the UPDF for broadening officers’ knowledge and building their professional capacity.
“This training is about enhancing knowledge. As lawyers, continue to broaden your knowledge and pursue more academic programs both domestically and abroad whenever possible. This will help you develop not only as lawyers but also as professional soldiers,” Brig. Gen. Busingye said.
He stressed the need to defend Uganda amid challenges while executing their duties to uphold the commendable work the UPDF is doing both inside and outside Uganda. He urged the graduates to carry on their responsibilities without disappointing.
Brig. Gen. Busingye also advised the graduates to take good care of their personal lives by avoiding reckless behavior and focusing on saving and investing for personal development.
“Your personal health and financial well-being are crucial to your performance while serving your country. As soldiers, you must be productive, and to be productive, you need to be healthy. You cannot be an effective soldier if you are sick and poor,” he emphasized.
Commandant LTC Lt. Col. Suzan Mwanga, in her remarks, noted that this was the 10th intake of the ABLOC, comprising young and vibrant soldiers who are lawyers from different UPDF units.
She urged them to take pride in serving the UPDF and reminded them that their primary role is to defend Uganda, with all other responsibilities coming second.
“You are lawyers, but you must understand that you are also soldiers mandated to serve Uganda with discipline. Provide sound advice to your commanders to advance through the ranks and make a meaningful impact,” Lt. Col. Mwanga said.
She expressed gratitude to the UPDF leadership for their unwavering support of the LTC, which facilitated the smooth running of the course.
International legal expert in International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Lt. Col. Arthur Lantino from the Netherlands Armed Forces, expressed pride in the sustainable partnership between the UPDF and the Netherlands Forces since 2015.
He pledged to strengthen the partnership and support the LTC in continuing to build capacity.
Lt. Col. Lantino encouraged the graduates to provide legal advice based on arguments rather than emotions and to stay updated through extensive reading.
Private Irene Komuhendo emerged as the best overall student, while Private Mandela William was recognized as the best in class, and Private Muhwezi Isaac demonstrated the best leadership skills.
