The UPDF Jinja based Legal Training Centre(LTC) has received a donation of 30 computers(mini-laptops) from the government of the Netherlands. The computers were delivered and handed over to LTC by the Netherlands ambassador to Uganda His Excellency Henk Jan Bakker. Twenty One UPDF Officers had trained and completed their studies in Refugee Law and Human Rights.
Samba Henk said that Netherlands has not only provided equipment to LTC but also provided training both in Uganda and abroad to Ugandan students with the objective of fully developing and building the capacity of the Centre and UPDF in general.
The ambassador further said that he is glad that LTC has made a transition and is already conducting such courses using its own instructors and facilitators.
He concluded that all these donations are a gesture of good collaboration between Uganda government and the Netherlands government and shall not stop.
While presiding over the ceremony, the Commandant Junior Command and Staff College(JCSC) Brig Gen Winston Byaruhanga appreciated the contribution from the Netherlands government in terms of equipment and manpower of facilitators which he attributed to good diplomatic relations.
Brig Gen Byaruhanga said the course is relevant because history has given Uganda experience and government has made efforts working with other organisations like AU and UN on refugee law,and that is why Uganda because of the prevailing peace and good handling of refugees, is now home to 1.3million refugees making it the first refugee hosting country in Africa and third globally.
He advised students to always be eager to learn more and practice what they have learnt if they are to be better lawyers. “Don’t go and get resting, the army has invested a lot in you and is expecting a lot from you, go and make us proud” he remarked.
Graduates were drawn from advocates and lawyers working in various UPDF formations and units.
The function was also attended by the Chief of Legal Services Col Godard Busingye, experts in law from the Netherlands, and LTC members of staff among others.
