President Yoweri Museveni who is also the Commander in Chief of Ugandan armed forces has commissioned the Shs3.48b new headquarters of the Special Forces Command.
The new magnificent building is named the General Yoweri Museveni House.
According to the president, the new new home of the SFC would have cost three times more than what was actually spent on it.
Also commissioned were newly-built dormitories for soldiers, renovated houses for non-commissioned officers, gun shades and a 30,000-litre fuel pump. These, he said, cost Shs1.1b and all the work executed in 23 months.
“Built by SFC's construction unit, the complex cost Shs3.48b, as opposed to the Shs9b quoted by a contractor. This spirit should be taken over by the whole army and other institutions,” Mr Museveni said before adding that the army should continue building its facilities and saving money.
“You should do this especially for lodgings for soldiers. It is not right for soldiers to sleep outside the barracks. What if war broke out in the night, where would we find you?” he asked.
“The army leadership raised the issue of encroachers on army land. It should not be tolerated. Encroachers should either compensate the army if they have built on the land or vacate it.”
The president noted that by building their own structures, more money will be saved adding that the only expenditure will be on the construction materials. He, therefore, urged the UPDF leaders to carry the SFC spirit to other units in the UPDF.
"This spirit of SFC should be taken to the whole army. I congratulate you and I encourage to use this method (building own structures)".
The works on the new building were started by the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba who is a former commander of the elite force - SFC.
Lt Col McDans Kamugira who represented Gen Kainerugaba at the launch note that the new home gives the officers pride.
"It's finally done! I today represent Afande SPA/SO to witness the commissioning of what he started..the home of our mighty unit the SFC. The C-in-C is about to arrive. Our home gives us a great deal of pride, identity and satisfaction. Hongera SFC!" Col Kamugira tweeted moments before the commissioning.
The function was also attended by the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi and the SFC Commander Maj Gen James Birungi among other senior leaders of the UPDF.
