MUBENDE, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday commissioned 280 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer cadets at the Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba in Mubende District, urging the newly trained officers to remain disciplined, focused and committed to national service.
The ceremony brought together Officer Cadets Intake 09/26 and Bachelor of Defence Studies Intake 05/23/29. The 280 officers included 187 professional cadets who began their training in February 2026 and 87 Bachelor of Defence Studies cadets who started their programme in September 2023. Eleven of those commissioned were women.
Six other officer cadets had completed their training abroad. They included Ruhamya Kainerugaba and Andrew Bakira, who trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, while four others trained in India.
Ruhamya is the son of UPDF Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and the grandson of President Museveni. His commissioning places him among the UPDF’s commissioned officers after completing his military training at Sandhurst.
The ceremony was attended by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his wife, Charlotte Kainerugaba, Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba Commandant Brig. Gen. Saad Katemba and other senior military officers.
Lt. Col. John Mugarura commanded the parade, while the newly commissioned officers later took the oaths of allegiance and secrecy.
Addressing the graduates, Museveni described their commissioning as the beginning of a long journey of service in the UPDF.
“First of all, congratulations to the graduates. You have started a long journey in a very honourable organisation, the UPDF. If you do your part and don’t get diverted, you will make a good contribution,” he said.
The President said a strong economy is necessary for a strong national defence system. He urged the military to work with other institutions to protect productive sectors, including commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communication technology.
Museveni also called for a firm response to rural crime, particularly the theft of livestock given to farmers through the Parish Development Model.
“When you get thieves stealing the goats and cows from the farmers which have been given by the PDM, that’s sabotage. It shouldn’t be tolerated,” he said.
He said such crimes undermine efforts to improve household incomes and transform communities.
Museveni also stressed discipline and the relationship between the army and the population. He said the UPDF must remain close to the people it serves while continuously improving its training and capabilities.
The President called for greater investment in science and technology, saying Africa needs to close technological gaps that have affected its ability to compete and defend itself.
He also urged African countries to strengthen cooperation and build capabilities across land, air, maritime and space domains.
Museveni commended the UPDF leadership for efforts to improve the welfare of soldiers, including pay and accommodation, and called for the modernisation of military training institutions.
He further encouraged the new officers to take care of their health, drawing from his own experience of remaining active at the age of 82.
Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the security situation in Uganda and the wider region remained relatively calm, with UPDF missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Somalia continuing.
However, he raised concern about an increase in violent crime in some parts of Uganda, including cases involving machetes and firearms.
He said security agencies were coordinating efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible.
The CDF also highlighted improvements in soldiers’ welfare during his nearly three years in office, citing progress in pay, accommodation, healthcare, education, logistics and administration.
He urged the newly commissioned officers to report to their assigned units and gain practical experience.
“I urge you to immediately join your assigned units and gain experience. You are now the future of the UPDF,” he said.
Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka praised the continued professionalisation of the UPDF and urged the new officers to uphold integrity, discipline and loyalty to the Constitution.
Brig. Gen. Katemba said the academy combines academic and military training, with emphasis on leadership, sustainability and ideological grounding. He commended the graduates for completing the demanding programme and cautioned them against individuals or groups that could divert them from their professional responsibilities.
The ceremony also recognised cadets who excelled in different areas of training.
Officer Cadet Enos Kugumaho of the Special Forces Command was named the overall best performer, while Officer Cadet Gloria Kwakunda, also from SFC, was named best in class.
Officer Cadet Derrick Hongoro of the Land Forces was recognised as the best in field, while Kenyan Officer Cadet Shemack Abreziz received the award for best in tactics.
The commissioning formally marks the entry of the new officers into the commissioned ranks of the UPDF, following their respective military and academic training programmes.
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