The Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) is Uganda’s premiere Military training institution which conducts Operational Level training for mid-level military officers men and women of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF). The training is intended to impart to the officers the necessary skills in military science as well as Peace Support Operations. It is also aimed at equipping the officers with the level of training that enhances their analytical skills in order to make them relevant in modern military environment.
About The College
Mission
The mission of SCSC is to develop professional abilities, knowledge, skills and understanding of selected officers by enhancing their leadership, analytical and communication skills to enable them execute higher responsibilities both in command and staff functions.
Vision
The vision of the SCSC is to become an internationally recognized Command and Staff College with full fledged Centers for Strategic Studies and Peace Support Operations.
Leadership
Maj Gen George Igumba
Commandant SCSC
College History
The idea of the Senior Command and Staff College was mooted by H.E the president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces much earlier but made public in the year 2000. A number of sites were lined up and visited but after a long search for the most suitable location, the present site of Kimaka was chosen.
The pioneer course of 31 participants commenced on 30th August 2004. This course is particularly notable because it included the top-most generals of the UPDF, namely Gen Tumwine, Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, and Gen David Tinyefuza. Todate, the college has run four courses with a total of 149 graduands. The fourth intake currently running comprises of students from Kenya, Tanzania, Southern Sudan and Uganda and is due to graduate on the 27th November 2008
College Organisation
The College is organized into a headquarter (Hq) with three wings namely the Coordinating Wing, the Training Wing and the Administration Wing. The College Hq is composed of the Commandant (Comdt) and the Deputy Commandant who is also the Chief Instructor. The College operates under the direction of the College Control Board whose members are HE the President and Commander in Chief as the chairman, Minister of Defence, Chief of the Defence Forces, Permanent Secretary, Comdt, Deputy Comdt as secretary to the Board and three academicians as co-opted members.
Course Modules
The modules are grouped into 4 terms running for 46 weeks covering 1610 periods of 45 minutes each. The subjects covered are:
- Air operations
- African Traditional Institutions
- Communication
- Intelligence
- Internal security and counter insurgency operations
- Joint warfare operations
- Land operations
- Leadership, Command and Management
- Logistics
- Maritime operations
- Movement
- National and International Affairs
- Operational requirements
- Organization
- Peace Support Operations
- Service Writing
- Special operations
- Staff Duties
- Strategy and Policy
- Training
Course Objectives
Consistent with the College mission the course objectives are designed to achieve:
A high military education that provides the individual with an understanding of the importance of critical and independent thought.
A greater understanding of the national, regional and international political, military and socio-economic problems through research and analysis of contemporary world affairs.
An understanding of the elements of Policy, Strategy, National interests and objectives.
In pursuit of the course objectives, the College has developed and maintains close relationship with local and international academic institutions for training assistance and currency of instructional materials.
Location
The Senior Command and Staff College is located in Kimaka village 3 km on the Jinja – Bujagali road astride the River Nile on the outskirts of Jinja town, 80 km east of Kampala city, in Eastern Uganda. The present site of the college was formerly a residential quarters for the Italian construction company for the construction of the 2nd Hydro electric Dam, but has since been modified to suit the college needs.