Senior Command and Staff College Officers Deepen Understanding of UPDF Command Structures

A delegation of directing staff and student officers from the Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka (Intake 21/25–26), received a lecture of opportunity on the organisation and functions of services, joint staff structures, and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) role in regional peace and security at the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS) Headquarters in Mbuya,

The lecture, delivered under the theme “Organisation and Functions of Services, Joint Staff Structure, Directorates, and UPDF Enhancement Towards Regional Peace and Security,” aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of the force’s institutional framework and strategic outlook.

Presiding on behalf of the Chief of Joint Staff, the Joint Staff Human Resource Management, Major General James Kinalwa, said the UPDF Establishment (2021) reflects the force’s broader vision of building a professional, efficient and accountable military.

He commended the leadership of the Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka, for prioritising such engagements, noting that they equip officers with a clearer understanding of the Establishment, command structures and the critical role of human resource development in strengthening the force.

The the Deputy Commandant, Senior Staff and Command College, Brigadier General Elvis Byamukama, said the student officers represent a diverse mix of countries, including Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Lt Col Martin Nsengiyumva highlighted Uganda’s position as a landlocked country reliant on regional trade, underscoring the importance of safeguarding national economic interests through a capable and responsive military.

He emphasised the need for regional integration and intelligence sharing, noting that security threats transcend national borders and require collective action.

Lt Col Nsengiyumva pointed to the continued activities of militant groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as major threats to regional stability. He said these conflicts have contributed to the influx of more than two million refugees into Uganda.

On behalf of the students, Maj Brenda Ninsiima expressed appreciation to the UPDF leadership for hosting the lecture, describing it as timely and insightful.

“The lessons we have learnt will be invaluable in our future assignments,” she said.

The lecture was attended by senior officers, including the Chief of Staff Land Force, Brig Gen Chris Bagonza, and the Chief of Staff Reserve Force, Brig Gen Mwanje Ssekiranda, among others.