The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has passed out a new intake of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (Counter-IED) specialists, and combat engineers.
The graduation ceremony for Intake 4/2026 took place on Saturday at the School of Combat Engineering in Kalama.
Commander of the 14 Combat Engineering Brigade, Brig. Gen. Richard Wakayinja, presided over the pass-out ceremony and highlighted the evolving dynamics of modern battlefields.
“The war theatre is now littered with IEDs. It is no longer conventional but asymmetrical,” Brig. Gen. Wakayinja said.
He commended the graduates for completing the rigorous technical regime and urged them to maintain high standards of military ethics and discipline.
“To the trainees standing before us today, your journey does not end here. Let discipline guide your actions, and let your service to your country be reflected in your commitment and conduct,” Brig. Gen. Wakayinja stated.
Mechanised Warfare College Commandant Brig. Gen. Peter Candia emphasized the frontline role played by combat engineers in tactical maneuvers and force protection.
“Like you have shown us and like I have just said, you will be the first in the battle to open the way and will be the last to leave, in addition to ensuring the survivability of the troops and the task forces,” Brig. Gen. Candia said. “The contemporary battlefield is mainly fought now by you. Through you, task forces will survive. Through you, task forces will delay, fix and destroy our enemies. You keep safe. UPDF and Uganda need your life.”
Acting Chief Instructor at the School of Combat Engineering Lt. Col. Jackson Akena reminded the technicians that operational safety must override execution speed during bomb disposal tasks.
“I always tell you this; remember speed is not important, but accuracy and safety are,” Lt. Col. Akena said.
The specialized course covered explosive theory, demolitions, Counter-IED tactics, tactical combat casualty care, military law, and GPS navigation alongside field simulations.
