The Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Artillery Division, Maj Gen Daniel Kakono, has said that physical exercise plays a critical role in preserving life, enhancing combat readiness, and developing leadership qualities among soldiers.
Maj Gen Kakono made the remarks while leading troops from the UPDF Artillery Division, alongside attached units from the Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) and the Army Aviation Command (AAC), during a 20-kilometre route march exercise aimed at strengthening physical fitness, teamwork, endurance, and operational readiness.
The exercise was designed to build stamina, improve coordination among units, and promote both physical and mental well-being among the troops as part of ongoing military preparedness training.
“Physical exercise is not a formality; it is an important means of preserving life, enhancing combat readiness, and developing leadership,” Maj Gen Kakono said.
He further noted that the route march also served as a symbolic reflection of the National Resistance Army (NRA) liberation struggle, during which fighters undertook long-distance foot marches across difficult terrain in the bush war.
“The march rekindles the spirit of the NRA revolutionary struggle. It reminds us of the foot marches through Uganda’s bushes that eventually liberated the country and laid the foundation for the socio-economic transformation that Uganda enjoys today,” he added.
Maj Gen Kakono urged officers and soldiers to maintain high levels of discipline, vigilance, and commitment to the core values of the UPDF.
“Discipline remains the backbone of a professional force. I urge all of you to remain vigilant, focused, and committed to the values that define the UPDF,” he said.
He also encouraged personnel to adopt a culture of savings and investment through the Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), noting that financial discipline contributes to the welfare and stability of soldiers beyond active service.
The route march is part of the UPDF’s continuous combat readiness training programme conducted across its formations to ensure troops remain physically fit, mission-ready, and capable of responding effectively to emerging security challenges.
