2,000 LDUs Undertake Intense Refresher Training

UPDF has closed a four months refresher course of 2,000 Local Defence Unit personnel at Hima army training school based in Kavera Barracks, Hima town council, Kasese District.

Officials on Friday said the LDUs were picked from northern and Eastern parts of Uganda.

The reintroduction of LDUs was triggered by increased insecurity in the country that saw high ranking government officials assassinated under mysterious circumstances.

The LDUs have boosted the country’s security services. 6,500 LDUs were recently trained and deployed in Kampala Metropolitan area. 4,000 are stationed in western Uganda.

President Museveni wants 24,000 LDUs deployed across the country to bring an end to the spate of crime, especially murders and kidnaps.

In his message, the Chief guest and Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Peter Elwelu who was represented by Brig Gen Moses Kwikiriza, the mountain Division commander, hailed the trainees for their endurance and advised them to avoid living reckless lives.

The Commandant Hima Army training school Col Justus Besisira said the trainees expressed good discipline during the training and encouraged them to “apply the skills acquired from the school to the field where they are going to be deployed.”

Others who attended the pass out ceremony included the second in command 2nd Division Brig Gen Fred Karara and the Mountain Division operations and training Officer Lt Col Felex Nyero among others.