Speaking whilst presiding over the pass-out ceremony of the Joint Basic Cadre Development Course Intake 15/2026 and the Advanced Psychosocial Support Course Intake 2/2026 at the Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan-Africanism Centre of Excellence (ORTSL-PACEX) in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District, Lt Gen Okiding said military training is intended to prepare personnel for future responsibilities during both peace and wartime and stressed that effective leadership must be built on patriotism and ideological consciousness.
“A soldier or commander without ideological orientation is a lost person and a potential danger to society. Such a person can easily lose focus, make decisions that are contrary to national interests, and fail to appreciate the purpose for which they serve. Ideological grounding enables leaders to make correct decisions, remain committed to national interests, and provide purposeful leadership in all circumstances,” he said.
Lt Gen Okiding noted that ideological clarity remains essential in building leaders capable of safeguarding national stability and guiding others through complex security challenges while remaining committed to the values of patriotism, discipline, and service.
The Deputy CDF commended President Museveni for his visionary leadership, which transformed the institution from a bush training area in the late 1980s into one of the country’s leading centres of ideological and leadership development.
He also conveyed greetings from the Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Special Operations (CDF and SPA/SO), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and applauded the commandant, instructors, facilitators, and support staff for maintaining high training standards despite operational and resource challenges.
Addressing graduates of the Advanced Psychosocial Support Course, Lt Gen Okiding described them as a critical addition to the security forces’ health services, noting that psychosocial support has become increasingly important in addressing operational stress, trauma, and battle fatigue among personnel deployed in conflict environments.
“Modern military and security operations present unique challenges that affect the mental and emotional well-being of personnel. The role you are undertaking is therefore critical in helping our forces remain resilient, focused, and capable of carrying out their duties effectively despite the pressures associated with operational deployments,” he said.
Lt Gen Okiding further urged the graduates to uphold spiritual growth, personal discipline, and moral integrity, warning against corruption, drug abuse, and other destructive behaviours that undermine professionalism and national service.
“Discipline, integrity, and moral uprightness must remain your guiding principles. Avoid practices that compromise your professionalism and always remember that the trust placed in you by the nation comes with a responsibility to serve honourably and selflessly,” he said.
The Deputy CDF also praised the growing collaboration among the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force (UPF), Uganda Prisons Service (UPS), and other government agencies in ideological training, saying such cooperation strengthens national stability and institutional cohesion.
“Joint training creates a shared understanding of our mission and national priorities. It strengthens unity among our security institutions and enhances our collective capacity to serve and protect the people of Uganda,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Joint Staff Training and Doctrine (JS-TRADOC), Brig Gen Wycliffe Keita, emphasised the significance of joint training in fostering unity among Uganda’s security agencies.
He said graduates leave the institution as one cadre united by a common mission of leadership, patriotism, and service to the nation.
“Joint training strengthens our ability to work together and reinforces the values that bind us as security agencies. When personnel train together, they develop a shared sense of purpose and commitment to national service,” he said.
Brig Gen Keita also highlighted the importance of psychosocial support services within the security forces, noting that a strong soldier must be physically fit, mentally resilient, and socially grounded.
“Psychosocial support personnel play a critical role in detecting stress-related challenges, restoring morale, and strengthening the operational readiness of our troops. Their contribution is essential to maintaining an effective and resilient force,” he said.
Brig Gen Keita revealed that efforts are underway to expand the pool of instructors across the UPDF through enhanced instructor-training programmes aimed at strengthening training capacity and supporting the vision of a modern, professional, and ideologically grounded force.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Oliver Reginald Tambo School, Brig Gen Justus Rukundo, reported that all 263 students who enrolled on the Joint Basic Cadre Development Course successfully completed the programme and qualified for deployment as political commissars within the UPDF, UPF, and UPS.
He said the course was designed to produce ideologically grounded leaders capable of promoting patriotism, national consciousness, and transformational leadership.
Brig Gen Rukundo further reported that all 74 participants of the Advanced Psychosocial Support Course successfully completed the training and qualified for deployment as psychosocial support officers and counsellors.
According to him, the course equipped participants with practical skills in political education, psychosocial support, psychotherapy, psychopathology, and counselling.
Brig Gen Rukundo also noted that participants undertook a field study visit to Nyakashagazi Farm in Nakaseke District, owned by progressive farmer Frank Agumaho, where they observed practical examples of socio-economic transformation, value addition, and wealth creation through modern agriculture.
He commended Agumaho’s achievements in dairy farming, yoghurt production, and crop cultivation, describing him as a model of innovation and self-driven development.
Brig Gen Rukundo urged graduates to continue pursuing knowledge and professional growth while guarding against corruption, sectarianism, overambition, and other negative tendencies that undermine national development.
Representing the Joint Staff Political Commissariat, the Director of Ideological Development, Col Kiiza Birungi, described the cadre development course as a strategic programme designed to produce ideologically conscious, politically alert, and mission-oriented leaders.
“The course is designed to produce cadres who are ideologically conscious, politically alert, and capable of mobilising, educating, and guiding others in the fulfilment of the forces’ mission,” he said.
He emphasised that a cadre is an agent of change entrusted with promoting patriotism, discipline, unity, and socio-economic transformation.
Col Birungi challenged the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired during training to strengthen cohesion within their institutions and contribute to national development while remaining committed to integrity, selfless service, and ideological clarity.
The ceremony concluded with graduates being urged to uphold the values acquired during training and serve as ambassadors of patriotism, professionalism, and transformational leadership in their respective units, institutions, and communities.
A total of 337 students graduated from the two courses, including 263 participants of the Joint Basic Cadre Development Course and 74 students of the Advanced Psychosocial Support Course, among them 12 female participants.
The pass-out was attended by general officers, UPDF senior and junior officers, representatives from the Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Service, militants, and area local leaders, among others.