PHOTOS: Museveni: New 6,000 LDUs to Beef up Uganda’s Security Services

President Museveni, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has passed-out another batch of Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel at Kaweweta Recruits Training School in Nakaseke district.

Museveni said the government embarked on LDU recruitment as a single sector of the wider security infrastructure to “immunize the country against insecurity since some sections of society were using crime to undermine the country’s progress.”

Museveni recently said acts of insecurity in Uganda such as kidnaps, terrorism and murder of women were aimed at undermining his government.

The soldiers are expected to beef up security during this festive season

The recruitment of LDUs came at a time Museveni was under intense pressure to restore public confidence in Uganda’s security services amid widespread crime in the country.

At the passout, Museveni expressed gratitude for the enthusiasm exhibited by the LDUs in joining in the fight against criminality in large numbers adding that Uganda has a large quality human resource due to good education system.

He there were 69 University graduates, 340 diploma holders and over 600 S.6 certificate holders among the LDUs.

The forces managing an obstacle during the passout

The Commander-in-Chief welcomed more of such good quality human resource into the Armed Forces saying they are easier to train and add value to the overall security infrastructure of the country.

President Museveni urged the graduands to be ready for further training for their career progression.

“Continuously develop your skills because the future is bright if you know what to do,” he said, adding that preservation of a soldier’s health is another life time requirement from each individual soldier.

Museveni inspecting a parade on arrival

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi said the training aimed at boosting the security of Uganda.

He implored graduands to maintain discipline and put the country above self.

Brig Gen JR Ruheesi, the Commandant of Kaweweta Recruits Training School congratulated the LDUs and praised both the UPDF leadership and local community for embracing the program.

The LDUs on a parade

He urged Intake 03 trainees to remain patriotic, tolerant and loyal in execution of their duties.

Herbert Wasaja emerged best overall student, Simon Kamya was best in the shooting range while Loyce Kihembo was the best female trainee.

The newly trained 6376 personnel, 311 of whom were females, were mainly drawn from Central and some parts of Eastern Uganda.