Parliamentary Defence Committee Tours NDC-U On Nationwide UPDF Tour

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs have visited the National Defence College-Uganda (NDC-U) in Jinja as part of a nationwide assessment of Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) establishments.

The Committee chairperson Hon. Robinah Rwakojo Gureme said the assessment at NDC-U would focus on the quality and relevance of training provided at UPDF training institutions.

“For NDC, it is to assess the quality and accuracy of training offered at the UPDF training institutions, including infrastructure, staffing levels, curriculum and instructor-training ratios,” Rwakojo said.

The Commandant of NDC-U, Brig Gen Alex Olupot, described the visit as an opportunity for the College to account for its work and benefit from Parliament’s observations and recommendations.

“Your presence here is a demonstration of the importance that the Parliament of Uganda attaches to national defence, security, professional military education and the effective use of public resources entrusted to the defence and security sector,” Brig Gen Olupot said.

He said NDC-U plays a strategic role in preparing senior military officers and other national leaders to analyse and respond to complex security and development challenges.

“Our mandate goes beyond military education. We seek to develop strategic leaders capable of analysing complex national issues from a whole-of-government and whole-of-society perspective,” he said.

Brig Gen Olupot said the College is strengthening its academic programmes, research and strategic studies while deepening partnerships with universities, defence institutions and other strategic organisations at national, regional and international levels.

The committee has been divided into two teams conducting visits to different UPDF establishments across the country.

The teams are expected to reconvene after completing the exercise to consolidate their findings and prepare a report and recommendations for presentation to Parliament.