Student officers from the Junior Staff Course intake 36/24-25 of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) undertook a study visit to the 3 Infantry Division to enhance their comprehension of joint staff responsibilities, the role of combat support units, coordination with allied security agencies, stakeholder involvement, and community engagement in disarmament efforts within the Karamoja Sub-region.
The visit aimed to provide the officers with hands-on experience and improve their command and administrative capacities in ongoing security operations.
Brig Gen Chris Ogwal, the Commandant of the Junior Staff College, extended his appreciation to the Division’s leadership for hosting the initiative. He highlighted the significance of the visit in offering student officers practical exposure to the intricacies of joint disarmament operations.
The Deputy Commander of the 3 Infantry Division, Col Allan Kyangungu, underlined the vital role of the disarmament campaign in restoring peace and stability to the Karamoja Sub-region. He noted that the area, previously troubled by armed conflicts and cattle raids, had adversely affected neighboring regions in eastern Uganda and border communities.
Col Kyangungu shared that the disarmament effort has achieved 80% success, recovering illegal firearms and apprehending hardened offenders through a comprehensive approach. He encouraged the student officers to delve into the cultural, economic, and social dynamics fueling the Karamoja conflict, emphasizing the need to study the region’s history and underlying issues to resolve resource-based disputes effectively.
He stressed the importance of community involvement in fostering trust, strengthening the credibility of security forces, and sustaining disarmament progress. With 20% of the disarmament operation remaining, Col Kyangungu reiterated its importance in fully pacifying the region and achieving durable peace.
Other security leaders present included SSP Michael Ongica, Deputy Regional Police Commander of the Mt Moroto Region; SP Kayongo Musa, Operations Officer ASTU; and SP Atukunda Edwine, Sector Commander Moroto.
