Eighty-six officers, including four allied students from Gabon, graduated from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Junior Staff College in Jinja after completing a four-month Grade III Staff Course (Junior Staff Course).
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Brig Gen James Kinalwa, the Joint Staff Human Resource Management in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, described the event as another milestone and an indication of a deliberate effort to develop competent commanders and staff officers for a professional army.
Brig Gen Kinalwa commended the Officers for their performance, noting that their formative and summative assessments demonstrated the acquisition of invaluable knowledge that would greatly benefit them in their future tasks.
“I am certain that you are going to apply that knowledge you have acquired effectively and efficiently wherever you will be. You have learned a lot at this college. However, whatever you have learned here, let it be a guide to your success in your military career as an officer,” said Brig Gen Kinalwa.
“It is one thing to attend a course and another to apply what you have learned,” he stated, urging the officers to avoid the “passenger” mindset and instead display competence, flexibility, and teamwork.
The Commandant of JSC, Brig Gen Chris Ogwal, revealed that this was intake 36/24-25, which included 86 students, among them four allied students from Gabon.
He emphasised the importance of the values and principles instilled in the Officers during their time at the college, urging them to carry these forward as they embark on the next phase of their careers.
“The skills you have honed here will be essential in shaping the future of our defence forces. Congratulations to you all. May you continue to serve with pride and professionalism,” said Brig Gen Ogwal.
During the ceremony, Lt Col Nasser Faruk Mukiibi was recognized for exhibiting the best leadership skills, while Major Demitri Jason Raivire was awarded as the best fraternal student.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Commandant of Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka, Maj Gen George Igumba; the maiden Commandant Emeritus of JSC, Brig Gen (Rtd) Bernard Obola; Commandant of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, Col Micheal Ssesanga; Commandant of the School of Supplies and Transport, Col Katongole; Col Alex Afayo Obbo, who represented the Commandant of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability; and Regional Prisons Commander (RPC), Senior Superintendent of Prisons Deogracius Ogwapit, among others.
