President Museveni Chairs UPDF Council Meeting at State House, Entebbe

President Yoweri Museveni, also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), chaired the Defence Forces Council at State House, Entebbe.

The primary agenda included the launch of the UPDF Establishment 2021, during which the president signed an executive order and received four copies of the UPDF Establishment book.

^{_{President Museveni signs Executive Order}}

Alongside senior military officials, the president discussed key decisions aimed at bolstering national security and improving the effectiveness of the UPDF. Preceded by a High Command session on Friday, February 16th, 2024, the meeting unveiled the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Establishment 2021, marking a significant step in modernizing and optimizing Uganda’s defense architecture.

In his address, President Museveni likened the role of the UPDF Establishment 2021 to that of medical professionals, stressing the importance of preserving the nation’s well-being. He articulated that just as doctors maintain the health of their patients, the UPDF’s core objective is to ensure peace and security in Uganda, drawing parallels between preventative and curative measures.

^{_{President Museveni launches the UPDF Establishment, 2021}}

“This UPDF Establishment is like public health and medical treatment. In the case of sickness, public health is done by observing elements of nutrition, vaccination, clean water, and all these are done for someone to avoid sickness. But in case he or she gets sick, there are also curative measures,” he said.

President Museveni articulated that the doctrine of defense and the establishment’s structures are critical for maintaining peace and security in Uganda, outlining their roles in effective planning and execution.

The President highlighted that the launched UPDF Establishment embodies a visionary approach to safeguarding peace and security in Uganda, drawing parallels to historical military structures and emphasizing the influence of science on strategic decisions.

“We need to understand that the diagnosis and the prescription for a cure are very much influenced by science. If we were to go back to 1800AD, the establishment which we are talking about here is similar to the armies of that time, mainly the European armies,” he said.

^{_{President Museveni receives copy of the UPDF Establishment book}}

During the Council meeting, the president honored the Late Lt. Gen. (Rtd). Pecos Kutesa for his distinguished service as the 1st Chairman of the UPDF establishment committee. He paid tribute to Kutesa’s bravery and contributions to Uganda’s liberation struggle, recounting their shared experiences during pivotal battles.

President Museveni also informed the council meeting of Kutesa’s significant role in various liberation battles and his retirement from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces after a distinguished career spanning over forty-six years.

“Late Lt. Gen. (Rtd). Pecos Kutesa was one of the officers that we recruited under the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA). He came and joined us in the bush, and when I noticed his bravery, it was when we attacked Kakiri on the 6th of April in 1981,” he said.

The president added, “I saw him crawling in a very professional way to capture the machine gun. He was moving really professionally. That is why, when I was going out for the first time in June 1981, I put him as one of my escorts close to the lake to go to Kenya.”

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, praised the exhaustive seven-year process leading to the formulation of the UPDF Establishment 2021. He emphasized the document’s consultative nature and its focus on strategic jointness and operational efficiency.

“The UPDF Establishment 2021 document enables changes of   merging of some UPDF departments, the creation of new ones, and discarding others to improve command, control and administration of the Forces,” Gen. Mbadi said.

^{_{CDF, Gen Wilson Mbadi}}

Hon. Vincent Ssempijja, the Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, hailed the UPDF Establishment 2021 as a blueprint for organizational effectiveness and operational excellence. He highlighted its alignment with previous defense transformation initiatives and its vision for a modern and resilient defense force.

“The launch of the UPDF Establishment 2021 signals Uganda’s commitment to ensuring national security and safeguarding its sovereignty in an ever-evolving global landscape. With a focus on efficiency, adaptability, and synergy, the UPDF continues to evolve as a formidable guardian of Uganda’s interests and aspirations,” he said.

^{_{Defence Minister, Vincent Ssempijja}}

The Minister commended President Museveni for his role in ensuring peace and stability in Uganda and the region, attributing these efforts to the country’s rapid socioeconomic transformation under his leadership.