A total of 527 senior non-commissioned officers have passed out from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Non-Commissioned Officers Academy in Jinja. They were Warrant Officers Intake 09/26 and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers of Intake 23/26.
Presiding over the pass-out ceremony on behalf of the Deputy Commander Land Force, the Jinja Cantonment Commander, Brigadier General Emmanuel Kanyesigye, said the UPDF’s success in its missions is rooted not only in its military capability but also in its strong ideology and political education.
“The UPDF wins wherever it goes on mission not because it has the best weapons, but because of its ideology and political education, which remain the foundation of the force. If you fail to follow our political ideology and norms, you simply fall out of the institution’s culture and values,” Brig Gen Kanyesigye said.
He described non-commissioned officers as the backbone of the UPDF and urged commanders at all levels to prioritise the welfare of their subordinates while continuously reinforcing the force’s core values through daily engagements.
In his remarks, the Commandant of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, Brigadier General Ssozi Ssesanga, said the officers had completed 20 weeks of rigorous leadership development, academic instruction, physical training, and character building.
“Throughout this period, the officers have demonstrated resilience, discipline, determination, and a willingness to embrace new knowledge and responsibilities,” Brig Gen Ssesanga said.
Brig Gen Ssesanga urged the officers to continue leading by example, uphold the highest standards of military discipline, mentor junior personnel, promote teamwork, and remain committed to continuous professional development.
“As senior non-commissioned leaders, you form the critical link between commanders and the soldiers under your charge. Your leadership directly influences discipline, morale, operational effectiveness, and mission success. The knowledge and experience you have acquired here should now be translated into exemplary leadership within your respective units and formations,” he said.
The pass-out ceremony was attended by several senior UPDF officers, including the Commandant of the Junior Staff College, Brigadier General Chris Ogwal; the Deputy Commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College, Brigadier General Elvis Byamukama; the Commander of Maga Maga Cantonment, Brigadier General Peter Gaetano Omora; Colonel Chris Kyanku; and Colonel Mbulachalo, among others.
