By Ijjo David and Mmeeme Leticia Luwenze,
JINJA:
The National Defence College by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has started operations to train equip the national arm with various military studies.
The grand opening of the college was commissioned by the UPDF Joint Chief Of Staff Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda, in Jinja on Monday.
“You are the pioneers of this College and it is a difficult task since it is new but my role here is to encourage you. Within six months you have done alot and I do encourage you to keep it up,” Kyanda said.
According to the commandant of the National Defense College , Maj Gen Francis Okello, plans to establish the facility started in 2013 and four task forces were set up to plan the establishment of the college.
The college according to a lay out on the Google map, has facilities such as a hospital, lecture rooms, officers’ mess, residences among others.
Maj Gen Okello said that the college is affiliated to Makerere University and that it will be offering studies to army officers at the level of one star general, Senior officers at the rank of Colonel and hopes to train civilians in future.
Lectures for the first intake will commence in January with about 20 participants.
Ugandan army officers have been getting military studies in countries including Kenya, UK and China among others.
