At least 15 Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) medics serving under United Nations Guard Unit Eleven (UNGU XI) have completed an intensive Combat Medical Care Training course in Somalia, designed to boost their ability to deliver swift and effective medical support in conflict zones.
The specialised training was conducted by The Development Initiative (TDI) with support from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
At the certification ceremony, Major Jacob Gowan Kaburika, representing UNGU XI Commander Lieutenant Colonel Peter Ruyogoza Barigye, commended the TDI-UNMAS team for equipping the medics with vital life-saving skills. “Knowledge is power,” Maj Gowan told the trainees, urging them to embrace continuous learning and apply their expertise to save lives—an ethos he said lies at the heart of UPDF’s operational philosophy.
UNMAS Medical Coordinator Ms Caroline Kimathi praised the group’s dedication, noting they had been trained in trauma care. “Be ambassadors wherever you go and use the skills acquired to save lives,” she said.
Captain Dr Andrew Namaulula, Contingent Medical Officer for UNGU XI, explained that the participants were drawn from different companies within the unit, with the training aimed at bolstering their capacity to respond to emergencies in the field.
Private Rachael Nabbanja, a nurse, reflected on the course, saying, “The training has equipped me to recognise medical emergencies early and respond professionally.”
The completion of this programme represents a key step in enhancing UPDF’s medical readiness in high-risk operational environments.