OPINION: UPDF; From a Guerilla Army to a People’s Army


The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) derives its mandate from the constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995) as amended in accordance with articles 208 and 209.

The Vision of UPDF is to Transform the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) into a modern, professional, efficient and accountable force anchored on a strong civil-military partnership. 

The UPDF derives its mandate from article 209 of the constitution of Uganda which specifies the functions of the UPDF which are;

To preserve and defend the sovereignty and interior integrity of Uganda which entails securing the borders of Uganda and defend Ugandans from both internal and external aggression.

To co-operate with civilian authority in emergency situations in cases of natural disasters like floods, landslides, earthquakes, hailstorms, landslides and other related occurrences. 


To foster harmony and understanding between the defence forces and civilians. In this they help out in carrying out free medical camps, conserving the environment through planting of trees, cleaning of streets and infrastructural development through building of hospitals, classroom blocks, bridges, stadiums roads and other related projects

To engage in productive activities for the development of Uganda. Under this we have seen the UPDF spearhead the operation wealth creation which has revived agriculture in Uganda transitioning from subsistence farming to commercial farming, it may be far from being attained but at least many households have transformed and many are now producing for commercial output.

Article 208 of the Ugandan Constitution as amended in 1995 clearly describes that;

That there shall be armed forces to be known as the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces. Which is now existing and actively operating both in Uganda and out of Uganda.

The UPDF shall be nonpartisan, national in character, patriotic, professional, disciplined, productive and subordinate to the civilian authority as established under this Constitution. With this we have a national army that is recruited on a district quota system whereby every district is represented. 

 

The UPDF is also supposed to be composed of citizens of Uganda of good character and as they celebrate the 42nd Tarehe sita anniversary it’s visible that the UPDF is loved by Ugandans because of how they relate with Ugandans. 

Apart from being a national army, the UPDF has been professionalized where by all officers who had joined without formal military ranks had to go and do more training to qualify to attain senior commander’s ranks which resulted in professionalizing the army.

Also important, the UPDF recruits members at all levels of education where we also have graduates from different professions such as engineers, doctors, lawyers, surveyors, architects and many others.

The discipline of the UPDF is now commendable where unlike in the past regime, a soldier would do anything and goes away with it, nowadays every soldier is responsible for their personal actions if it contradicts the orders of their commanding officer and we have seen many being paraded to the court martial for disciplinary action.

This year’s Tarehe Sita and Defence Forces Week celebrations will be conducted within the districts of Greater Mbarara sub-region under the theme “Recognizing the sacrifice of the founders of the people’s revolution for social economic transformation.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi revealed through Tarehe Sita, UPDF uses pro-people approach and Civil-Military cooperation to foster harmony between the civilian population and the Army. 

During the Tarehe Sita and Defence Forces week celebrations, UPDF conducts different Community outreach programs such as medical camps, engineering works, sanitation, sensitizing the population about the mandate of the force and among others.

These events won’t only be happening in Mbarara only but countrywide where the UPDF is stationed. In Kampala there have been clean up exercises in Makindye division, Kasokoso, Kinawataka, Wakiso, Kawempe, Nansana and other urban centers.

Major General Don Nabasa the commandant for military police added that the exercises ahead of the celebrations are not only limited to Uganda alone but also in other countries where the UPDF is serving such as Somalia.

Major Gen Nabasa urged all UPDF officers to continue to work together with wanaichi to take Uganda forward.

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