President Yoweri Museveni while presiding over the second graduation of the National Defence College (NDA) Uganda on Saturday June 1, 2024 launched what he termed corruption fight against individuals in the public service, politicians and some ‘crooks’ in the UPDF.
“I am here at NDC Uganda to launch the fight for corruption. The politicians and those in the public service have eaten up our country because they are corrupt. In fact it is easy to deal with these people because it is just a small group of people,” Museveni said before senior army officers and ministers who gathered at NDC campus in Njeru municipality, Buikwe district for the graduation ceremony.
Museveni threatened to crash all those involved in the scandals that sabotage the security and economic growth of the country.
“We are ready to crash everyone. If a leaf falls in tea we just remove it but if a fly falls in the tea, we shall pour it. The corrupt are the flies and we shall pour them aways,” Museveni threatened.
He says the rampant corruption has triggered people to seek foreign aid which he stressed that Uganda can live a sustainable life.
“If I hear one talking of aide, I just go and sleep. The country doesn’t want foreign aide, but the problem is you the corrupt. The UPDF is somehow good but it has a few and we shall finish up them,” he said.
However, the President who passed out 21 senior officers, commended the Defence Colleges in the country for undertaking the professionalism of the army officers to promote the country’s security.
He said the training schools are exposures of everything and pledged to make them centers of excellence.
“The Uganda’s defence colleges are attracting other individuals from foreign countries. They come from different countries to study from here and they are paying for these facilities,” he added.
The 21 graduates joined the college on June 5, 2023, and successfully completed their course on June 1, 2024. These included two lady officers, a member of parliament and a civilian who is an Assistant Commissioner in the MoDVA, which the commandant highlighted that the mix provided a rich and diverse source for discussions.
Maj Gen Francis Okello, the college commandant, said the senior officers showcased diligent and positive attitude and commitment not only to learn but also to share experiences amongst themselves.
“Today marks another huge milestone in the journey of the college. We are graduating another cohort who diligently spent their time here with a very positive attitude and commitment not only to learn but also to share experiences amongst themselves,” said Maj Gen FB Okello.
“I am happy to report that all NDC course members successfully completed the National Security and strategic studies course (the NDC Course) and have also passed all the exams of the first part of their Masters in Security Strategy programme of Makerere University and will, after leaving NDC continue to complete their research paper for awards of the Masters degree,” he said.
He added that; “The success we are registering today in sending out these prepared, committed and ideologically conscious senior officers to make their contribution in securing Uganda’s future is because of all your collective efforts.”
The National Defence College – Uganda was established by H.E president Museveni in November 2021. It is a premier and inter-service government learning institution under the minister of defence and Veteran affairs (MoDVA) mandated to provide professional joint defence and security sectoral education at the strategic level.
The college prepares senior military officers, national security professionals, and future leaders, including those from the relevant civilian fields in understanding broader strategic security environment and public policy issues and how to manage these issues at strategic level.
Participants are awarded certificates in national security strategic studies (NSSS) and a national defence college – Uganda badge. The NSSS runs for 11 months while the Masters of Security Strategy (MASS) takes two years.
