A total of 124 soldiers from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineers Brigade have successfully completed a specialised course in land law and estate management at the Uganda Military Engineers College (UMEC) in Lugazi.
The training is part of the UPDF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the management of public land and minimise disputes arising from land use within the force.
Presiding over the closing ceremony, the Commandant of the college, Col Dr Eng Charles Muhigirwa, emphasised the importance of equipping engineers with the legal knowledge necessary to oversee land-related responsibilities.
He noted that engineers handle a significant share of the force’s land management duties and therefore require a solid grounding in the laws governing land ownership, use, and administration.
Muhigirwa highlighted the consequences of limited knowledge of land policies, including conflicts, project delays, financial losses, and community displacement.
He urged the graduates to apply the skills acquired to avert such setbacks and uphold professionalism in all matters related to land and estate management.
Speaking at the event, the Commandant of the Legal Training Centre, Col Susan Mwanga, said the course had been carefully designed to give soldiers a practical understanding of land ownership, acquisition procedures, and lawful land practices. She expressed confidence that the training would significantly reduce land-related disputes within the UPDF and improve compliance with national land regulations.
The ceremony was attended by senior commanders, staff officers and instructors from across the Lugazi Cantonment, who commended the graduates for their dedication throughout the programme.