COPY NO.1 OF 6 COPY OCTOBER 2002

THE ARMY COMANDER

UGANDAPEOPLESDEFENSE FORCE

GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS

BOMBO - KAMPALA

RE:          BRIEF ON TRAINING OF UPDF IN COMPARISON WITH Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA)

1. THE aim of this brief is to make an analysis of the training within UGANDA PEOPLE’S DEFENCE FORCES, including factors affecting training in general, our capacity in training matters and the way forward.

2. It’s also intended to make use of RPA as a case study, and be able to come out with recommendations which could be used in streamlining, training and hence improving the operational capacity of our army.

BACKGROUND

3. Training in any given army is aimed at improving the operational efficiency and more so tailored to suit the threats which a particular country is experiencing.

4. It should be recognised that an army is a war-machine which needs to be constantly serviced in order to cope with the ever changing scenarios of modern times. Hence there is need for constantly reviewing our training requirements.

5. In the case of UGANDA, the immediate threat now is Rwanda which calls for us to go back on the drawing board and be able to come out with a comprehensive training package tailored to meet that threat. Especially now the RPA has acquired a lot of weapons ready to support any dissidents who are opposed to our regime.

6. Training in UGANDA PEOPLE’S DEFENCE FORCES in general and infantry in particular has been characterized by mixed fortunes with some institutions meeting the standards and others coming out with half baked soldiers as the case with recently passed out recruits from BIHANGA TRAINING SCH WHO WERE; RECRUITED PURPOSELY TO DEAL WITH THE RWANDA THREAT BUT GOD FORBID. Those boys could have perished compared to the enemy they are facing now Kony, who has disorganised them than RPA.

7. It should be noted that instructors we have in most of our training institutions have overstayed which in instructions can affect efficiency and in some cases age has caught up with most of them.

8. The people heading some of these training establishments are lacking in some aspects and if the track record of individuals is followed, then you will realize that a re-organisation in the training department is inevitable. Especially these days, when we are handling different type of students from outside in some places there’s need for secrecy.

9. For Instance the cadet course which has been going on for the last two months in JINJA in our view has not attained acceptable standards and this was a result of the people concerned not advising the army leadership properly on what ought to have been done. These instructors qualified to handle that group were not enough and so were the NCOs who play an important role in shaping officers.

A COMPARISON WITH RPA.

11. During the course of our tour of duty in different sectors of DRC, we have had chances and to examine the RPA with keen interest. They on their part are always keen following events in UGANDA with keen interest right from Kony war to our politics. It is actually interesting to note that our RPA colleagues go for UGANDA newspapers when surfing the internet.

12. In the course of our discussions with them, we have realized that they have taken training seriously. Time and again, we see officers being recalled from their units to go for further training. Thanks to their training pact with the Kenyans

13. All in all, the RPA has made greater strides in training and some of the reasons for this will be put in our recommendations.

FACTORS AFFECTING TRAINING.

14. There are a number of factors affecting training in UPDF and in our view; the following are the major ones.

Corruption tendencies manifested in the form of people concerned not being able to inform and advise on what they can handle and what they can’t. You could prove this by singling out a particular school after getting the details about instructors and any other training requirements. Tell the Commandant of that particular school that you have 6,000 trainees for training and whether they are in position to effectively handle them.

In relation to (a) above, lack of commitment by some people to our cause, knowingly or unknowingly, they seem not to be interested in the development of UPDF with threat of RPA is putting on us.

THE WAY FORWARD

15. In view of the above state of affairs, there is need for immediate re­organisation of the training department by infusing new blood in the department. We are of the view that all these commandants of training institutions be replaced by young and committed cadres of un-questionable loyalty and commitment.

16. What needs to be done is to mobilize a lot of resources for the purpose of training for units, which are not operational, constant training, must be emphasized.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion therefore, it should be noted that our training establishment is lacking in many. There is urgent need of redressing the wrongs which have taken place. This is more so in infantry training, Armour and Air Defense since our potential enemy now the RPA have trained much. We are still ahead of them in Artillery.

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