Senior military officers from across Africa have converged at the Defence Intelligence and Security Headquarters to study the evolving institutional framework and strategic security role of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF).
The delegation from the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) Kimaka, comprising Intake 21/25–26, received a comprehensive briefing on military organization and joint staff structures in Mbuya. Major General James Kinalwa, the Joint Staff Human Resource Management, presided over the session on behalf of the Chief of Joint Staff. He explained that the UPDF Establishment (2021) provides the blueprint for a professional, efficient, and accountable military.
Major General Kinalwa praised the college leadership for facilitating the engagement. He noted that such lectures equip officers with a precise understanding of command structures and human resource development. The Deputy Commandant of SCSC Kimaka, Brigadier General Elvis Byamukama, highlighted the international nature of the cohort. The student body includes officers from Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi.
Lt Col Martin Nsengiyumva, representing the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, addressed the strategic economic importance of a capable military. He reminded the officers that Uganda remains a landlocked nation dependent on regional trade. He stressed the necessity of regional integration and collective intelligence sharing to manage modern threats.
“Security threats transcend national borders and require collective action,” Lt Col Nsengiyumva stated.
The lecture specifically identified the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and Al-Shabaab as persistent dangers to regional stability. Lt Col Nsengiyumva linked these conflicts to the influx of over two million refugees into Uganda. He argued that a responsive military is essential to safeguarding national economic interests.
On behalf of the student officers, Maj Brenda Ninsiima thanked the UPDF leadership for the session. She described the insights as critical for their upcoming career assignments.
“The lessons we have learnt will be invaluable in our future assignments,” she said.
The event drew high-ranking military officials, including the Chief of Staff Land Force, Brig Gen Chris Bagonza. The Chief of Staff Reserve Force, Brig Gen Mwanje Ssekiranda, also attended the briefing. The lecture reinforces Uganda's ongoing commitment to professionalizing its military and leading regional peace initiatives.
