The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has officially launched a two-week training programme on Gender in Peace Support Operations at the Headquarters of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (URDC) in Jinja.
The course, which began on Tuesday, brings together officers and personnel from various UPDF units and is facilitated by advisers from the British Peace Support Team Africa (BPST-A).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Col JE Okalebo, deputy chief of staff operations and representative of the Commander HR URDC, emphasized that gender integration in peace operations goes beyond women’s issues to include the diverse roles, responsibilities, and power relations among men, women, boys, and girls.
“Integrating gender perspectives into peace support operations is not only critical for operational effectiveness but is also a requirement by regional, continental, and international bodies for mission deployment,” Okalebo said.
He added that UPDF experience demonstrates that incorporating gender considerations enhances mission effectiveness, strengthens intelligence gathering, builds trust within communities, and informs better protection strategies.
Leading the BPST-A facilitation team, Gender Adviser Monica Musyoni commended the collaboration with UPDF, highlighting the training as a strong example of both institutions’ commitment to professional military development and shared responsibility in advancing peace and security across Africa.
“Peace operations must reflect the cultural experiences that shape gender roles, community dynamics, perceptions of authority, and the lived realities of security,” Musyoni said.
“By integrating gender perspectives, missions move beyond simply responding to conflict and contribute to building inclusive societies where everyone’s potential is recognized.”
The two-week programme aims to deepen participants’ understanding of gender considerations and strengthen their ability to integrate these perspectives into all stages of peace support operations.
Facilitators from BPST-A and UPDF gender experts will ensure that international best practices are adapted to local and regional contexts.
BPST-A, which provides training and support to African military, police, and civilian personnel in peace support and security programmes, reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with UPDF to enhance capacities for more inclusive and effective peacekeeping missions.
