Peace prevails as the UPDF celebrates milestones   By Joshua Kato   For the last twenty years, Uganda has enjoyed peace in most of its regions. With the defeat of the LRA in northern Uganda, the last two years have been even more peaceful with calm reigning over the whole country. A peaceful Uganda According to Army spokesman Lt. Colonel Felix Kulaigye, this peace has not been achieved by accident. In the last 24 years, the UPDF has fought and defeated not less than 20 armed groups. The Lords Resistance Army (LRA) could also be on the verge total destruction. In December 2008, the UPDF attacked the LRA in their hide outs in the DRC. Although this attack was at first seen as a failure by skeptics and members of the opposition, the success has now been seen. According to the army, the LRA is no longer a fighting force, capable of threatening Ugandans. Training opportunities Because of better training and preparedness, the UPDF has been able to attack the LRA even further away in the Central African Republic. Other groups that have been totally defeated include the UPDA, the Holy Spirit Movement, The UPA rebels of Hitler Eregu in Teso, the ADF in western Uganda the LRA and the West Nile Bank Front (WNBF). Smaller groups like the National Democratic Front (NDF), the National Democratic Army (NDA), and the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) were also defeated.   UPDF soldiers guard the Congo-Uganda boarder. The Army has done a good all-round job of protecting civilians, improving standards in the army and social responsibility   On the international scene, the UPDF has performed very well as the only major country helping to keep peace in Somalia. The UPDF has been lauded by powerful countries like the US, for their endless efforts at bringing peace in Somalia. In the last two years, training and capacity building have been key. The UPDF can train senior officers at the Senior Commandant College, Kimaka and their cadets at the Jinja Junior Military Academy. Air-force Officers are trained at Nakasongola while engineering work is done at Magamaga. Previously, senior officers had to go to the UK, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, the US, Nigeria and other countries for training. There were limitations too. For example, only two officers were sent annually to any of the offered foreign training institutes.   Now, in addition to the 20, there are at least another 50 officers training at Kimaka. In 2009, the UPDF trained the largest number of both new recruits and officers since independence. By December 2009, over 9,000 soldiers were passed out at Singo and Kaweweta in Nakaseke and Kabamba in Mubende. Special troops have also been trained at Kalama (tanks and armored vehicles) and at Butiaba (Artillery and Airforce). “We now have five full divisions,” says army spokesman, Lt. Felix Kulaigye. This training explains the common promotions we witness in the army today, since many officers now qualify. It is also the reason why others are retiring and new officers being passed out.   Infrastructure Construction of new barracks has been in high gear. In the past, the UPDF has come under criticism concerning sub-starndard barracks, saying they lived in metallic structures called maama yingiya pole. However, in the last few years, modern structures have come up. at Kakiri, Kasenyi, Kabamba, Butiaba, Hima, Nakaperimo, Kata and Sironko. Bombo and Mbuya have also undergone massive renovations. In addition, the UPDF constructed several houses and community structures, including houses in Nakasongola and a church in Semuto.   Social responsibility During Tarehe Sita celebrations in 2009, the UPDF cleaned urban areas. It was good to see soldiers, some with their guns hanging on their shoulders carrying spades, pangs and slashers as they worked alongside civilians to clean their communities. Two years ago, when floods invaded areas of Teso and Lango, the army was at hand to help rescue victims. All these activities need discipline. “Because of the prevailing peace, we are now able to engage in humanitarian causes,” Kulaigye says. Therefore, while President Yoweri Museveni said a good ideology has kept the revolution this long, discipline in the army has been the key.