The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), through the Joint Staff–Logistics, has emphasized the critical importance of logistics in modern military operations during the Third Annual Careers Expo held at Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
The expo brought together government institutions, corporate organisations, students, and other stakeholders to explore emerging career opportunities and evolving professional demands across multiple sectors.
Leading the UPDF delegation, Brigadier General Godwin Karugaba, Joint Staff Logistics, underscored logistics as a key strategic enabler of operational readiness and mission success.
He noted that effective logistics systems are essential for sustaining troop support in the field and ensuring the success of both peace support and domestic operations.
Brig Gen Karugaba highlighted the UPDF’s continued investment in modern logistics systems and training, pointing out that military logisticians play a wide-ranging role in procurement, inventory management, equipment maintenance, fuel and ration distribution, medical logistics coordination, and engineering support services.
He encouraged students to take full advantage of logistics training opportunities, stressing that strong expertise in the field would give them a competitive advantage in their careers.
“You’ll be a logistics boss if you grasp what is going to be taught here,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Edward Sengonzi Damurila, Under Secretary and Accounting Officer at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, highlighted the rapidly evolving nature of supply chain management careers, noting a shift toward data-driven, technology-enabled, and sustainability-focused practices driven by digital transformation.
Sengonzi said modern supply chain professionals are increasingly transitioning from routine administrative tasks to more strategic and analytical roles.
“Manual tasks such as document creation are being automated, enabling professionals in the supply chain field to focus on strategic and value-added functions,” he said.
The expo featured participation from UPDF officers, university officials, exhibitors, students, and various stakeholders, engaging in discussions aimed at preparing graduates for the future of work and strengthening industry-academia linkages in Uganda’s evolving labour market.
