Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee is assessing the quality and relevance of training in Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces institutions, including staffing, infrastructure, curricula and instructor-to-trainee ratios.
The assessment is part of a nationwide inspection of UPDF establishments and took the committee to the National Defence College-Uganda (NDC-U) in Jinja on Wednesday.
Committee Chairperson Ms Robinah Rwakojo Gureme said the visit to NDC-U would focus on training standards.
“For NDC, it is to assess the quality and accuracy of training offered at the UPDF training institutions, including infrastructure, staffing levels, curriculum and instructor-training ratios,” Rwakojo said.
NDC-U Commandant Brig Gen Alex Olupot described the visit as an opportunity for the college to account for its work and benefit from Parliament’s oversight.
“Your presence here is a demonstration of the importance that the Parliament of Uganda attaches to national defense, security, professional military education and the effective use of public resources entrusted to the defence and security sector,” Brig Gen Olupot said.
He said NDC-U plays a strategic role in preparing senior military officers and other national leaders to analyse and respond to complex security and development challenges.
“Our mandate goes beyond military education. We seek to develop strategic leaders capable of analyzing complex national issues from a whole-of-government and whole-of-society perspective,” he said.
Olupot said the college is strengthening its academic programmes, research and strategic studies while deepening partnerships with universities, defence institutions and other strategic organisations at national, regional and international levels.
The committee has been split into two teams visiting different UPDF establishments across the country.
The teams are expected to reconvene after the exercise to consolidate findings and prepare a report with recommendations for presentation to Parliament.