UPDF Passes Out 169 Combat Engineers.

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has passed out 169 officers and soldiers who completed the Basic Combat Engineering Level III Course at the School of Combat Engineers (SOCE), Kalama, in Mubende District.

The pass-out ceremony for Intake 20/25 was presided over by the Commandant of the 14 Combat Engineering Brigade, Brig Gen Richard Wakayinja, who congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold discipline, commitment to duty, honesty and trustworthiness in the execution of their responsibilities.

“I am confident that the specialised training you have acquired will enable you to stand up to the challenges in the theatre of operations,” Brig Gen Wakayinja said.

Brig Gen Peter Chandia, the Commandant of the Mechanised Warfare College, thanked UPDF leadership for its continued trust in the institution and reaffirmed the college’s commitment to training personnel despite prevailing challenges.

He urged the officers to remain highly proficient specialists in support of combat operations, guided by the UPDF core values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service and personal courage.

The Chief Instructor, Lt Col Jackson Akena, said the course drew officers from the 14 Combat Engineering Brigade under the Land Forces and the 17 Field Engineering Brigade of the Special Forces Command.

Lt Col Akena attributed the successful completion of the course to the UPDF leadership’s vision and continued support, noting that the training underscores the force’s commitment to professionalism and adaptability to emerging threats.

The ceremony was attended by senior and junior officers from across the UPDF.