UPDF Commissions Ruhengyere Army Primary School In Kiruhura

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has commissioned Ruhengyere Army Primary School in Kayonza Parish, Kikatsi Sub-county, Nyabushozi County, Kiruhura District.

The school is among the UPDF’s formal education institutions under the Special Force Command (SFC), established to bring essential education services closer to military personnel and the surrounding population.

Presiding over the commissioning, the Joint Staff Formal Education, Sports and Culture, Brigadier General Richard Karemire, commended the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for prioritising the welfare of soldiers and their families through investments in education.

“The construction of this entire school campus would not have been possible without the support of our Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has consistently emphasised the welfare of soldiers and their families, including supporting education initiatives,” Brig Gen Karemire said.

Brig Gen Karemire said that Ruhengyere Army Primary School is one of the 53 education institutions established by the UPDF to provide quality education, primarily to the children of serving soldiers, allowing their parents to focus on their core responsibility of defending the country.

He added that the schools also benefit neighbouring communities, observing that pupils from the civilian community currently outnumber the children of soldiers at the School.

“That is not a problem because, ultimately, we are educating Ugandans,” he said.

According to Brig Gen Karemire, the commissioning reflects the commitment of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the UPDF to addressing challenges facing army schools. He added that the UPDF would continue working closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports to improve learning conditions in military-founded schools.

The Chairperson of the School Management Committee and Commander of the Commando Brigade, Colonel CK Masembe, said the school was established in 2022 by Maj (Rtd) Julius Bamanya.

He explained that it initially operated from a cookhouse, makeshift structures and classrooms conducted under tree shades before the UPDF’s Formal Education, Sports and Culture assumed its management in 2023.

Col Masembe said that following a directive from the Chief of Joint Staff, the SFC leadership identified a suitable site for the school, paving the way for the construction of the current facilities.

The school’s head teacher, Warrant Officer Class Two Lubyayi, said the institution has registered steady growth, attributing its progress to the support of the SFC Education Desk and the UPDF leadership.

He said construction of the classroom blocks began in December 2025 and was completed in January 2026. The school now has three classroom blocks, comprising seven classrooms in total, as well as an administration block.

The ceremony was attended by the Director of Education, Sports and Culture in the SFC, Col Gilbert Owamagyezi; the Commander of 3 Dumisha Brigade, Lt Col Gabriel Lomongin; senior and junior officers, community leaders, political representatives and parents.