President Yoweri Museveni on Friday commissioned a new batch of officer cadets at the Uganda Military Academy in Kabamba, calling on them to embrace discipline, patriotism, and continuous learning as they begin their service in the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).
In his message shared on X, the President congratulated the graduates for successfully completing their training and commended the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and his commanders for what he described as “excellent work” in preparing the new officers for duty.
Museveni said the commissioning of new cadets strengthens the country’s defence forces, ensuring Uganda remains secure and self-reliant.
He outlined four guiding principles that every soldier must live by — health, discipline, patriotism, and knowledge.
“Look after yourselves,” he advised the officers, stressing that good health is vital for effective service.
He emphasized that without discipline, soldiers cannot work in coordination with their peers or execute missions successfully.
On patriotism, Museveni warned against what he called a “colonial mentality of inferiority or dependence,” saying soldiers must fully understand why they serve under the Ugandan flag and the country’s guiding principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy.
The President further urged the officers to seek continuous knowledge, particularly in modern warfare and defense strategies, to remain effective in safeguarding Uganda’s sovereignty.
Museveni’s address comes at a time when the UPDF continues to expand its regional and peacekeeping roles, including operations in Somalia and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The commissioning ceremony at Kabamba, a historic training ground for Uganda’s army, marks another milestone in the UPDF’s ongoing efforts to professionalize and modernize its ranks.