The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, has called on senior military officers to move beyond conventional combat operations and embrace strategic leadership capable of addressing increasingly complex national, regional and global security challenges.
He made the remarks while officiating at the closing ceremony of the five-day Strategic Exercise (STRATEX 26) for Intake 04 participants at the National Defence College–Uganda (NDC-U).
The exercise marked the final practical classroom evaluation of the participants' one-year academic programme at the country's premier institution for strategic security education.
Addressing participants, Lt Gen Okiding emphasized that the nature of today's security environment requires military leaders who can think strategically rather than focus solely on battlefield operations.
"Today's strategic environment demands leaders who can think beyond conventional military operations," he said.
"You are not just gun shooters; you are strategic leaders capable of understanding, participating in, and responding to increasingly complex national, regional, and global security challenges."
Lt Gen Okiding reiterated that the National Defence College was established to prepare leaders capable of navigating evolving security dynamics and responding effectively to emerging threats.
"The National Defence College was established to prepare strategic leaders," he noted, underscoring the institution's mandate to develop leaders equipped to address complex national, regional and global security challenges.
Lt Gen Okiding also commended the college leadership together with the team of seasoned diplomats and mentors for creating an intellectually demanding learning environment that meets the requirements of national security end-users.
The Commandant of the National Defence College–Uganda, Brigadier General Alex Olupot, said STRATEX 26 provided participants with a platform to strengthen critical thinking, policy formulation and decision-making skills while reinforcing the reality that modern security challenges require a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
"Over the five days, our participants have engaged in rigorous strategic analysis to develop the capacity for critical thinking, policy formulation, and decision-making," he said, noting that the exercise enabled participants to appreciate the complexity of contemporary security challenges and the importance of coordinated national responses.
The Dean of Studies and Exercise Director, Brigadier General Kefa Nangeso, described STRATEX 26 as the final classroom exercise of the one-year course, allowing participants to apply the strategic concepts acquired throughout the programme in a practical setting.
Brig Gen Nangeso explained that the module focused on balancing the key instruments of national power—Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic—to support effective national strategy.
"The exercise highlighted the interconnectedness of global events and resource limitations. Participants practised strategic communication, drafted permanent national security strategies, and analysed how resources must be dynamically prioritised across competing strategic needs," he said.
Representing the team of senior mentors and seasoned diplomats who evaluated the exercise, Uganda's Ambassador to the United States of America, Mull Katende emphasized the close relationship between diplomacy and military operations, saying the two disciplines are complementary elements of statecraft.
"Our interaction demonstrates that defence and diplomacy are fundamentally interrelated and mutually supportive. And we encourage you, therefore, to continue growing those experiences in diplomacy to the military officers," he said.
Exercise Sponsor Colonel Ephraim Mugume described STRATEX 26 as the culmination of the academic programme, bringing together and validating all lessons acquired throughout the year.
"The exercise's main objective is to enhance members' understanding of practical strategy-making, including the development of their skills in strategic analysis and strategy formulation," he said.
Col Mugume further commended the participants for their professionalism, intellectual curiosity and willingness to challenge assumptions while working collaboratively to develop comprehensive strategic responses.
Since its establishment, the National Defence College–Uganda has graduated three intakes of strategic leaders drawn from the military, government institutions and allied countries.
With the successful completion of STRATEX 26, participants of Intake 04 are now on course to graduate, marking another milestone in the college's mission of developing strategic leaders capable of addressing contemporary national, regional and global security challenges.
