Uganda and Japan have launched a new rehabilitation and empowerment initiative aimed at supporting injured servicemen, war veterans, and their families through medical, psychosocial, and vocational programs.
The Shs1.9 billion ($478,577) project, funded by the Nippon Foundation, was unveiled by Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth at the Defence Forces Rehabilitation and Vocational Centre in Mubende.
It is titled “Consolidating Physical and Psychosocial Services at Mubende Rehabilitation Centre and Establishing a Veterans Skilling Centre in Kakiri.”
The programme will strengthen medical rehabilitation, expand psychosocial counselling, and create vocational training and reintegration opportunities for veterans who were either injured in combat or affected by Uganda’s turbulent past and regional peacekeeping missions.
Oboth Oboth described the project as a milestone in addressing the welfare of soldiers. “This project represents a significant step forward in strengthening the welfare and dignity of our veterans and serving soldiers who have sacrificed for the peace and security of our beloved country,” he said.
Japanese Ambassador to Uganda Takuya Sasayama reaffirmed Japan’s support, highlighting that the collaboration builds on the long-standing ties between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Japan Self-Defence Forces in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
“This project reflects our shared belief that security is not only about military strength, but also about how we care for those who have borne the burden of defending our nations,” Ambassador Sasayama said.
The Defence Forces Rehabilitation and Vocational Centre in Mubende, established in 1986, has been instrumental in restoring the dignity of soldiers through services such as prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, mental health support, and vocational training.
The new programme is expected to expand its reach while opening new skilling and reintegration opportunities at Kakiri.
The launch was attended by officials from the Ministry of Defence, the UPDF, veteran associations, and representatives from Japan.
