President Museveni who is also the Commander in Chief (CIC) of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF)has met with the country’s Security High Command.

The security’s top brass discussed the country’s successful handling of several pandemics including COVID 19, Locusts, Operation Shujaa and the security situation in the Karamoja region.

He commended the UPDF for their efforts in enforcing Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) when the pandemic was at its peak.

“I congratulate you for going through the Corona pandemic. Thank you for doing your part of enforcement. Many countries like U.S.A lost many people, over one million, but because of our correct line and guidance we only lost about 3,000 people,” Gen. Museveni said.

The President added that if it weren’t for the indiscipline of some opposition groups during campaigns that led to the second wave of the virus, Uganda would have lost very few people. 

President Museveni also hailed the UPDF for fighting the locusts and more recently detecting elements that wanted to make Uganda ungovernable during the recently concluded presidential elections.

“I salute you for your contribution. Thank you for fighting the locusts and for stopping the insecurity that was paused by some wrong elements during elections with the aim of making the country ungovernable,” hesaid.

The President briefed the High Command about the progress of the Operation Shujaa in Congo and assured them that the operation is moving well and soon ADF will be no more.

“The operation in Congo has gone very well andwe are now in phase three of sweeping all the camps of the enemy. We have only lost 3 soldiers and two of them died from self accident,” he said.

Mr. Museveni said that this was all because of the good planning and strategies of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF).

Operation Shujaa is being implemented following a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Uganda and the DRC to conduct joint operations for the eradication of ADF and other foreign-armed groups in the eastern part of DRC.

Karamoja

On the issue of cattle rustling in Karamoja, President Museveni said that there should be no cow stolen from anyone and that government is going to work on the security roads in the region to facilitate the swift security operations.

“The cattle rustlers are not a big problem. Nobody should be stealing cows. I want us to make a law criminalizing cattle-rustling,” he said.

In recent months, cattle rustlers, especially the Pokot and Matheniko from Kenya have intensified violent attacks in the Northern districts of Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Napak , Kapelabyong, Kabong and Abim, killing people and looting their animals.

Hundreds have been forced to flee their villages.

The UPDF has killed hundreds of Karamojong warriors since the launch of military operation Usalama Kwa Wote in the north eastern part of Uganda in July 2021.

UPDF spokesperson Brig Felix Kulayigye recently said the armed forces had so far recovered 184 guns, 2,352 rounds of ammunition, and 17,186 livestock from the warriors.

During the same meeting, President Museveni commissioned 5 junior officers at the ranks of Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant who have been undergoing Basic Military Training Cadet courses in Kenya, United Kingdom, and Jamaica respectively.

“I Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic Uganda and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces by the virtual of the authority entrusted to me by the constitution of the Republic of Uganda and the law governing the defenseforces of Uganda do hereby commission you to be officers of Uganda People’s Defense Forces at the ranks of Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant. May God help you,” President Museveni said during the commissioning.

The officers commissioned include; O/CDT Junior Agaba who has been studying in Jamaica for one year, 2LT. Edgar Koojo who has been studying from Sandhurst school, United Kingdom for one year.

Others were Lt. Andrew Mwebembezi, Lt. Alfred Blac Mulabi and Lt. Allan Akampulira who were all on a three years course in Kenya.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of DefenceHon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, State Minister for Defence Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth, the CDF Gen. Wilson Mbadi, the Coordinator Operation Wealth creation, Gen. Salim Saleh, Senior Presidential Advisor on Peace and Security Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso and officers of the High Command among others.