UPDF officers pose for group photo during the opening of the training.  
 
By Robert Elema 
 
The UPDF 4th Infantry Division Commander, Brig Gen Felix Busizoori has attributed the success and long existence of UPDF to three best pillars of training, discipline and ideological concept, noting that these pillars must continue being emphasized in all UPDF training institutions. 
 
He said this on Wednesday September, 25, 2024 while opening training of Trainers’ Methods of Instruction Course for the second intake of 2024 at Lugaya Uganda Wild Life training wing in Murchison National Park.
 
“The army operates on three best pillars of training, discipline and ideological thinking. These have made UPDF stand the test of time, be professional and successful army wherever we operate,” noted Gen Busizoori.
 
The Division Commander elaborated that through training, a soldier attains skills in Marksmanship, maneuver tactics, physical fitness, and builds team work and leadership skills. 
 
He added that, discipline improves the army’s professional conduct, adherence to command and control and respect to superiors and subordinates whereas ideological thinking are principles that guide the UPDF on the revolutionary methods of work and code of conduct.
 
“Training helps us conduct our business in an orderly manner, gain fighting skills and teaches us how to support each other. Through discipline respect to superiors equals and subordinates are attained. UPDF has survived for long due to strategic objective with the masses that is why wherever we go we win hearts and minds of the people,’ he said.

UPDF officers at the training at Lugaya Wild Life training wing in Murchison National Park on Wednesday.

Lt Col Micheal Ssempijja the commandant of Lugore military training school and in charge of the Training of the Trainers’ course at Lugaya says, the objective of the course is to produce potential teaching staff equipped with necessary knowledge that will enable them conduct training within UPDF institutions.
 
“There is a need to train troops realism to meet the challenges of tomorrow. This training must keep in view the type of the enemy, the conditions likely to fight in and the emerging new weapons and techniques. The trainees therefore shall be kept fully abreast of the latest development in the new techniques and skills,” Lt Col Ssempijja said.
 
He thanked the leadership of UWA for having accepted to host the training in their facility which has conducive environment for learning.
 
The Chief Warden Murchison Falls Conservation Area, Fredrick Kiiza extended appreciation to UPDF 4th Division Commander for having chosen Lugaya facility and incorporating UWA Rangers in the training.
 
He noted that by acquiring military knowledge and techniques the rangers become more proficient in protecting and preserving fauna and flora of the national parks. 
 
He appealed to the trainees to be mindful of the wild animals in the surrounding lest they lose their lives.
 
The selected students were derived from 4 Division headquarters, affiliated units and UWA range that include 2 officers, 93 militants and 7 UWA rangers.